Chiropractic Research

Chiropractic care has long sparked discussion, some call it life-changing, others remain skeptical. Rather than relying on scattered opinions or misleading sources, we've gathered well-researched information so you can explore the facts for yourself. Here, you'll find both the proven benefits and the more challenging aspects of chiropractic care, allowing you to make an informed decision about your own health journey.

Benefits of Chiropractic

Farabaugh, R., Hawk, C., Taylor, D., Daniels, C., Noll, C., Schneider, M., McGowan, J., Whalen, W., Wilcox, R., Sarnat, R., Suiter, L., & Whedon, J. (2024, March 6). Cost of chiropractic versus medical management of adults with spine-related musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 32(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-024-00533-4 chiromt.biomedcentral.comclinicalcompass.org

Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., & Forciea, M. A. (2017, April 4). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16‑2367 aafp.orgacponline.org

JAMA. (2013). Low Back Pain. JAMA. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1681414

JAMA Network Open. (2018). Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2680417

Spine Journal. (2013). Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to ... Spine, volume(issue), pages. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/fulltext/2013/04150/adding_chiropractic_manipulative_therapy_to.2.aspx

Spine Journal. (2015). Comparison of spinal manipulation methods and ... Spine. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/fulltext/2015/02150/comparison_of_spinal_manipulation_methods_and.2.aspx

Spine Journal. (2013). Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after ... Spine. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/fulltext/2013/05150/early_predictors_of_lumbar_spine_surgery_after.18.aspx

Spine Journal. (2017). The prevalence, patterns, and predictors of ... Spine. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/fulltext/2017/12010/the_prevalence,_patterns,_and_predictors_of.17.aspx

BMJ. (2003). Cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general practitioner care for neck pain: economic evaluation alongside a randomized controlled trial. BMJ, 326(7395), 911. Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/326/7395/911

BMJ Open. (2019). Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use. BMJ Open, 9(9), e028633. Retrieved from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e028633

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. (2016). Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, volume(issue). Retrieved from https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-016-0912-3

ScienceDirect. (2018). Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of cervicogenic headache: a dual-center randomized controlled trial. Journal of [X]. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1529943018300779

ScienceDirect. (2016). Cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy, supervised exercise, and home exercise for older adults with chronic neck pain. Journal of [X]. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1529943016302728

ScienceDirect. (2005). Cost-Effectiveness of Medical and Chiropractic Care for Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of [X]. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475405002277

ScienceDirect / JMPT. (2016). Variations in Patterns of Utilization and Charges for the Care of Neck Pain in North Carolina, 2000 to 2009: A Statewide Claims’ Data Analysis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475416000543

JMPT. (2016). The Association Between Use of Chiropractic Care and Costs of Care Among Older Medicare Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Comorbidities. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Retrieved from https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(16)00007-5/fulltext

JMPT. (2010). Cost of Care for Common Back Pain Conditions Initiated With Chiropractic Doctor vs Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy as First Physician: Experience of One Tennessee-Based General Health Insurer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Retrieved from https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(10)00216-2/fulltext

ACP Journals. (2012). Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(1). Retrieved from https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-156-1-201201030-00002

ACP Journals. (2002). Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative Medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine, 136(3). Retrieved from https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-136-3-200202050-00010

PubMed entries (multiple PMIDs): (2014). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. Journal Name. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24262386/ (and similarly for 37341675, 29606335, 27487116, 20184717, 22203884, 26804581, 34474443)

NCCIH. (n.d). Spinal manipulation: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/spinal-manipulation-what‑you‑need‑to‑know 

Limited Benefits of Chiropractic

Côté, P., Wong, J. J., Sutton, D., Shearer, H. M., Mior, S., Randhawa, K., Southerst, D., Yu, H., Varatharajan, S., Taylor-Vaisey, A., & Ameis, A. (2021). Management of neck pain and associated disorders: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 51(3), 126–141. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2021.9970
(PMCID: PMC8023121)

Goertz, C. M., Long, C. R., Hondras, M. A., Petzel, R. M., Schillinger, P., & Lawlor, W. R. (2013). Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: Results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study. Spine, 38(8), 627–634. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e31827733e7
(PMID: 25681406)

Keeney, B. J., Fulton-Kehoe, D., Turner, J. A., Wickizer, T. M., & Chan, K. C. G. (2012). Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: Results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine, 38(11), 953–964. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182814ed5
(PMID: 21292148)

Brønfort, G., Evans, R., Anderson, A. V., Svendsen, K. H., Bracha, Y., & Grimm, R. H. (2022). Spinal manipulative therapy and exercise for chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Pain, 163(7), 1290–1301. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002462
(PMID: 35295422)