The Cochrane Collaboration has tackled a controversial health practice. These experts in evidence-based medicine reviewed the content and quality of studies involving spinal manipulation such as chiropractic. The investigators examined 26 studies with six thousand volunteers. Only nine trials were considered good enough to meet the standards of excellent research.
The Cochrane reviewers found that this type of hands-on treatment appears to be about as effective as pain relievers in easing lower back pain. Patients who fared best did not have sciatic nerve problems or psychological issues relating to their back discomfort. Spinal manipulation appears to be no better than other treatments for back pain but neither is it worse. Patient preference should be an important criterion for deciding whether to use this form of therapy.
