News posted on February 08, 2009 06:30
A recent study in Rome, Italy shows the effectiveness of Chiropractic
treatment for the reduction of low back pain and sciatica involving disc
protrusion. The study done among 102 adults pointed to more effective pain relief for participants whose treatment included Chiropractic adjustments as opposed to those receiving only simulated actions.
Each of the participants in the study had moderate to severe acute low
back pain, moderate to severe radiating pain in one leg and MRI evidence of disc protrusion in the spinal segments considered associated with the pain. Researche’s collected detailed information regarding the pain history of each participant, range of motion in the affected areas and data regarding each person's overall quality of life.
Subjects in the active treatment group received soft tissue manipulation
followed by Chiropractic adjustment with the purpose to restore movement to the area consisting of two vertebrae, a disc and surrounding structures. Those subjects in the simulated treatment group received soft muscle pressing that was similar to manipulation but without the specific patterns of rapid thrusts to the area administered.
During the treatment period, patients in both groups were asked to keep a diary to track the number of days they were in pain, the number and type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) they took, and the number of drug prescriptions involved.
Results at the end of this 6-month period showed a significant difference
in the number of pain-free subjects. The active treatment group was 55% free of radiating pain compared to only 20% in the simulation group.
Additionally, 28% of the active group was free of local pain compared to 6% in the simulation group. Another benefit of the treatment was the reduced use of pain medications in the active treatment group.
Researchers concluded that the patients receiving active Chiropractic
manipulations enjoyed significantly greater relief of local and radiating
acute low back pain, spent fewer days with moderate-to-severe pain and consumed fewer drugs for the control of pain.
SOURCE: Dynamic Chiropractic Online. http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/24/06/19.html