The Nelson Migraine Study

Man migraine headache concept on black

Man migraine headache concept on black

Nelson CF, et al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. October 1999; Vol. 22, No. 8, pp. 517-522.

This study compared chiropractic spinal manipulation to amitriptyline which is a medication often prescribed for the treatment of headache. The researchers found that “spinal manipulation seemed to be as effective as a well-established and efficacious treatment (amitriptyline), and on the basis of a benign side effects profile, it should be considered a treatment option for patients with frequent migraine headaches.”
In other words, the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment or spinal manipulation in the treatment of headache should be considered by patients suffering these symptoms.

The researchers also found that in the weeks immediately following treatment, patients who had recieved spinal manipulation had a 42% reduction in headache frequency, compared to only 24% of those who took amtriptyline. The chiropractic group had fewer headaches even after treatment had ceased.

Portion reprinted by permission from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, Copyright 2003.

Click here to read the PubMed Abstract from the National Library of Medicine