Each year more and more research is published in reputable journals affirming what millions of people know: chiropractic is a safe and effective way to improve our health, as well as reduce and prevent pain.
In 2015, there were about 310 scientific papers that involved chiropractic care in one way or the other, and we’ve written up a summary of the top seven. (You can see our previous summaries for 2013 and 2014 here.)
1 - Chiropractic Beneficial for Dizziness and Balance Problems
This study looked at the problem of dizziness and balance disorders in the general population. They found that patients who sought chiropractic care for help had the highest success rate in recovery, especially in patients over 65 years-of-age, patients with neck injuries, and those with neurological/muscular issues.
2 - Chiropractic Best Solution for Musculoskeletal Pain
This Swiss study compared people with spinal, hip, or shoulder pain who visited a medical doctor with those who saw a chiropractor for their initial visit. The authors found that people who saw a chiropractor had less pain, greater satisfaction, and spent less money on their care.
3 - Chiropractic Keeps You Out of the Medical Doctor's Office
In this study, researchers looked at the health records of 17.7 million US adults and examined if there was a relationship between the number of chiropractors in a region and the effect on how patients used healthcare. The study found that in areas with more chiropractors, patients were less likely to visit a medical doctor for pain problems. In addition, the chiropractic patients saved money on their care and reduced the burden on primary care providers.
4 - Chiropractic Safer than Medical Care for Elderly
As we get older, we start to experience more limitations in mobility and more aches and pains. This study published in Spine found that older patients who saw a chiropractor had a 76% lower chance of injury from their care than those who saw a medical doctor.
5 - Chiropractic Relieves Symptoms of COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a very difficult problem. This recent review looked at the scientific literature and found that studies show that chiropractic care can improve patient lung function and exercise performance.
6 - Chiropractic Patients Have Fewer Imaging Tests and Less Surgery
In this article from September 2015, researchers looked at 747 patients who were treated for back pain. The study found that patients who saw a chiropractor instead of a medical doctor had fewer x-rays and MRIs, were less likely to have surgery for their pain, and had lower healthcare costs.
7 - Chiropractic Helps Fibromyalgia Patients
This study in Rheumatology International found that fibromyalgia patients who saw an upper cervical chiropractor had more symptom relief and better outcomes than those who did not receive chiropractic care.
As we can see, the latest literature shows that there are many benefits of chiropractic care. To get the latest chiropractic news, visit our site at ChiroNexus.net.
Study References
Dizziness and Balance:
Ndetan H, Hawk C, Sekhon VK, Chiusano M. The role of chiropractic care in the treatment of dizziness or balance disorders: analysis of National Health Interview Survey data. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 2015;Sep 11; pii: 2156587215604974.
Best Solution for Musculoskeletal Pain:
Houweling TAW, Braga AV, Hausheer T, et al. First-Contact Care With a Medical vs Chiropractic Provider After Consultation With a Swiss Telemedicine Provider: Comparison of Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Care Costs in Spinal, Hip, and Shoulder Pain Patients. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2015;38(7):477-83.
Preventing Medical Treatment:
Davis MA, Yakusheva O, Gottlieb DJ, Bynum JPW. Regional Supply of Chiropractic Care and Visits to Primary Care Physicians for Back and Neck Pain. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2015;28(4):481-490.
Safer for Senior Citizens:
Whedon JM, Mackenzie TA, Phillips RB, Lurie JD. Risk of traumatic injury associated with chiropractic spinal manipulation. Spine 2014;Dec 9.
Chiropractic for COPD:
Wearing J, Beaumont S, Forbes D, Brown B, Engel R. The Use of Spinal Manipulative Therapy in the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2015 (December 24)
Fewer Imaging Tests:
Fritz JM, Kim J, Dorius J. Importance of the type of provider seen to begin health care for a new episode of low back pain: associations with future utilization and costs. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2015(Sep 29).
Beneficial for Fibromyalgia:
Moustafa IM, Diab AA. The addition of upper cervical manipulative therapy in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology International 2015;35(7):1163-1174.
