“Non-specific low back pain represents about 85 percent of low back pain (LBP) patients seen in a primary care centre and about 10 percent will go on to develop chronic disabling low back pain”
Does it actually help in reducing future episodes of back pain?
Is there a reason for continued Chiropractic care even while out of pain?
Most importantly, is there research that supports the value of it?
A study by SPINE journal assessed the effectiveness of spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) for the management of chronic non-specific lower back pain and whether continued treatment helped prevent further episodes of pain and re-injury.
Study Link:
Senna MK, Machala SA. “Does maintained spinal manipulation therapy for chronic nonspecific low back pain result in a better long-term outcome?” August (2011; 15:36 (18):1427-37
Sixty patients with non-specific low back pain for at least 6 months were divided into 3 groups.
Group 1:
12 treatments of sham (fake) SMT over a 1-month period
Group 2:
12 treatments of SMT over a 1-month period with no follow up treatments for following 9 months
Group 3:
12 treatments of SMT over 1-month period along with “maintenance spinal manipulation” every 2 weeks for the following 9 months
SMT is effective for the treatment of chronic nonspecific LBP. To obtain long-term benefit, this study suggests continued spinal manipulation on a less frequent basis after the initial treatments of manipulative therapy.