Why Chiropractic is Superior for Musculoskeletal Pain

Countless studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to treat musculoskeletal complaints like back pain, neck pain, or sciatica. A 2015 study from Switzerland looked at the relative benefits of chiropractic compared to medical care for the most common types of pain issues.  The authors examined data from people who reported spinal, hip, or shoulder pain. Subjects included 403 who saw a medical doctor for relief and 316 people who saw a chiropractor. After four months after treatment, the patients were asked to fill out a survey reporting on their recovery.

The findings revealed:

• “Patients initially consulting MDs had significantly less reduction in their numerical pain rating score…”
• Patients who saw MDs were significantly less satisfied with the care they received and the outcome of that care.
• Patients who saw a chiropractor had significantly lower healthcare costs for their treatment.

The authors conclude that patients should first be sent to a chiropractor for musculoskeletal problems, rather than a medical doctor.  They acknowledged that care models that require patients to see a medical provider first “may be counterproductive”.    Having direct access to chiropractic care not only reduces the overall healthcare costs, but may also “ease the workload on MDs, particularly in areas with poor medical coverage and hence enabling them to focus on complex cases.”  When a patient presents to a chiropractor with a more complex health problem, they can refer and or comanage the patient’s care as is appropriate for that individual.

Research such as this contributed to both the American College of Physicians and the World Health Organization issuing recommendations that chiropractic care be utilized as a first line defense for many types of musculoskeletal pain.

 

RESOURCES

Houweling TA, Braga AV, Hausheer T, Vogelsang M, Peterson C, Humphreys BK. 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. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015 Sep;38(7):477-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.06.015. Epub 2015 Aug 16. PMID: 26288262.

Amir Qaseem, Timothy J. Wilt, Robert M. McLean, et al; for the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians . Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med.2017;166:514-530. [Epub 14 February 2017]. doi:10.7326/M16-2367

World Health Organization Departmental update “WHO releases guidelines on chronic low back pain” December 7, 2023.  https://www.who.int/news/item/07-12-2023-who-releases-guidelines-on-chronic-low-back-pain accessed 2/10/25