Harvard Study of CHIROPRACTIC pain relief and safety
October 19, 2018

Harvard Study of CHIROPRACTIC pain relief and safety 

By

Noah Herbert. D.C., CCSP

William J Owens DC, DAAMLP

Mark Studin DC, FASBE(c), DAAMLP, DAAPM

A recent article by Harvard Health Publications at Harvard Medical School to discuss the use of chiropractic care for pain relief.

Currently thousands see the treatment of chiropractors however many don’t realise the wide variety of treatments a chiropractor can use to help relieve back and neck pain.  The article states “while the mainstay of chiropractic is spinal manipulation, chiropractic care now includes a wide variety of other treatments including soft tissue techniques, manual or manipulative therapies, postural and exercise education and ergonomic training – including nutritional consultations.  In addition, chiropractors often work in conjunction with G. P’s, pain experts, and other health professionals to treat patients with pain.

While this is nothing new to chiropractors, it may serve to further educate the public as to the many tools a chiropractor possesses to help patients.  While most of the research on chiropractic has focused on spinal manipulation, or adjustment of the spine, for pain relief, there have been studies done on the effectiveness of chiropractic for treating musculoskeletal pain, headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia (Harvard Health Publications).  The author goes on to state “a recent review concluded that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraine, neck pain and whiplash.”

Spinal manipulation, or adjustment of the spine, is a term used to describe providing a specific high velocity, low amplitude thrust to the vertebra to restore joint function.  Chiropractors use this technique to correct the body’s spinal alignment to relieve pain allowing the body to heal.  Treatment usually takes a short-focused period.  Most patients are scheduled 2-3 times a week initially.  Patients generally see improvement of their symptoms in the first 2 to 3 weeks (Harvard Health Publications).

References:

  1. Harvard Health Publications (2015). Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief. Retrieved from http://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief