Chiropractic Research
Manipulation and Mobilization for Patients With Neck Pain: Clinical Outcomes From the UCLA Neck-Pain Study
In this study, manipulation and mobilization techniques were compared in attempt to determine the most effective treatment for neck pain. Different variables such as the presence or absence of heat, and the presence or absence of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) were further combined with each treatment.
On average, for both treatment methods, a 65% reduction in neck pain was achieved by week 24, and roughly 50% pain improvements were experienced by week 6.
Those receiving heat therapy initially experienced a significant reduction in severe pain by the 2-week follow up appointment, however only a slightly better overall improvement long term in comparison to the other treatment variations.
Initially, the mobilization treatments resulted in slightly greater improvements in neck disability, average and severe pain levels; however by week 24 the results between manipulation and mobilization techniques were comparable.
Neither EMS nor heat alone, or in addition to either technique significantly improved outcomes. Heat application may however result in more rapid short-term improvements.
Read the article here: Manipulation and Mobilization for Neck Pain
Summary by Skylar Urschel
Recovery Patterns of Patients Treated with Chiropractic and Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Long-lasting or Recurrent Low Back Pain
This study illustrates that some benefits of chiropractic intervention can be achieved following a handful of treatments, however more substantial results in lower back pain and overall improvement occur after a more extensive treatment plan.
Read the article here: Recovery Patterns of Patients with Low Back Pain
Summary by Skylar Urschel
Efficacy of Preventative and Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Low-Back Pain and Related Disabilities: The Preliminary Study
Descarreaux, M., Blouin, J.S., Drolet, S., Papadimitriou, S. and Teasdale, N.
Chronic lower back pain can be effectively treated by spinal manipulation therapy (SMT); more specifically it was the intensive therapy that yielded the most dramatic alleviation of both pain and disability. Pain remained measurably reduced 10 months following the intensive therapy phase (12 treatments), regardless if treatments were maintained after this period. However, those who continued to receive maintenance SMT following the initial treatment phase experienced an even further reduction in disability after 10 months.
In sum, a short-term spinal manipulation treatment effectively improves pain, even up to 10 months after treatment. Whereas long term SMT has the ability to significantly reduce both pain and any associated disability.
Read the article here: Efficacy of Manipulation Techniques in LBP
Summary by Skylar Urschel
Comparative Short-Term Effects of Two Thoracic Spinal Manipulation Techniques in Subjects with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Control Study
Casanova-Mendez, A., Oliva-Pascual-Vaca, A., Rodriguez-Blanco, C., Heredia-Rizo, A., M., Gogorza-Arroitaonandia, K., & Almazan-Campos, G. (2014)
Two manipulation techniques were compared for their short-term efficacy in treating non-specific neck pain. Participant’s received a single, 2-minute treatment of either the Dog Technique or the Toggle- Recoil technique; after which pressure pain threshold, self perceived neck pain and cervical mobility were evaluated. Both techniques resulted in pressure pain threshold improvements. The most significant improvements were seen in the participants self perceived neck pain, in both groups, immediately following treatment. Improvements in cervical range of motion, however, were only experienced after the toggle-recoil treatments. Despite the cervical mobility results, researchers concluded that after merely one treatment there is no clinically significant differences between the two techniques.
Read the article here: Comparative Short-term Effects of two Thoratic spinal manipulation techniques
Summary by Skylar Urschel