Current Research Supports Chiropractic Maintenance Care

Two research studies generated by the medical profession this year add evidence in support of the value of chiropractic maintenance care.

Chiropractic Maintenance Care Provides Long Term Benefit to People with Chronic Low Back Pain

The first study published in January 2011 in Spine concluded that “SMT [Spinal Manipulative Therapy or Spinal Adjustments] is effective for the treatment of chronic non specific LBP [low back pain]. To obtain long-term benefit, this study suggests maintenance spinal manipulations after the initial intensive manipulative therapy.”

Chiropractic Maintenance Care Results in Less Repeat Injury Than Physical Therapy and Medical Management

The second study in April 2011, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, provides additional support for the value of chiropractic maintenance care for post injury low back pain patients.  The study followed 894 injured workers for a period of one year.  During that year there were four different types of therapy available to the workers:  medical management, physical therapy, chiropractic, and no therapy.  Episodes of repeat disability were recorded during the year following the initial injury.  Physical therapy had the highest percentage of reinjured workers followed by those receiving medical management or no treatment at all.  The lowest incidence of repeat injury was found among those workers who had received chiropractic maintenance care.

The results of published surveys given to chiropractors have documented the profession’s belief in the value of maintenance care.  Furthermore, during the last decade there have been a dozen peer reviewed papers on the subject.  There are far more questions to be answered, but it is heartening to see medical research corroborate the studies and beliefs of the chiropractic profession.

http://www.chiroaccess.com/Articles/Medical-Research-Supports-Chiropractic-Maintenance-Care.aspx?id=0000262

Barrhaven’s Marketplace Family Chiropractic Centre Doctor’s Comments:

We have seen this to be true over and over again.  Patients who continue with chiropractic  maintenance care less often return complaining of relapse or reinjury compared to those who decide to stop after the initial phases of care.  Also those who have continued care recover much faster when new injuries arise.

I know personally my life is so much better when I am adjusted regularly.  I feel great the vast majority of the time.  Most people end up accustomed to how they are feeling now and think it is normal.  With chiropractic care you function and feel better and when you maintain that level of function you have the ability to express more of your potential.  For more information go to http://www.marketplacechiropractic.ca