For a long time, Chiropractors and Chiropractic Patients have advocated that regular chiropractic treatment has a great preventative affect on their back pain and also contributes to their well-being. With increased research in Chiropractic, more studies are objectively supporting this anecdotal evidence.
A recent article published in "Spine" by Senna, M and Machaly, S in January 2011 is one such study. In this study three groups of people with Chronic Low Back Pain were studied. One group received a sham treatment (placebo). A second group received 12 treatments over a month, then discontinued treatment. A third group did 12 treatments over a month, but then contined treatment once every 2 weeks for another 9 months.
At the end of the first month, both treatment groups had similar outcomes. At the end of the 10 month follow-up period, those who had ongoing maintenance care had significantly better results in terms of pain and disability levels than those who discontinued care after one month. The group who continued maintenance care also had better lumbar mobility and better perceptions of their general health than the other treatment group.
This does not imply that all patients will require maintenance care. However, this does objectively show what I have seen in practice. That many people with chronic low back pain do benefit from ongoing maintenance care.
Do you have any questions about this or anything else? Give us a call at 747-0844 or drop by Bidgood's North Plaza, Goulds
Dr. Jeff Marshall, BScKin, DC, CSCS
