Spinal manipulation
Spinal manipulation is based on the theory that back pain
is caused by problems with the muscles and other tissues in the spine and trunk
region.
This treatment has been used to treat neck, back, and
shoulder pain.
Spinal manipulation is likely to help either acute or chronic low back pain in the short-term but probably no more than other treatments such as physical therapy, exercise, or pain medicine.1
Different practitioners use different types of
manipulation, ranging from massage and slow pressing or twisting to rapid
movement or forceful pressure on the head, shoulders, back, or hips.
If you have tight muscles or muscles that spasm, your practitioner may
first use heat, ultrasound, or electrical current to relax your muscles before
manipulating the spine.
People who benefit from spinal
manipulation usually notice improvement after one visit, and additional visits
aren't needed.2 At most, 2 to 3 weeks of this type of
treatment is considered to be enough to treat sudden low back pain.
Although some practitioners encourage long-term spinal manipulation for
"maintenance" or "preventive" reasons, this practice has no proven
value.
Chiropractors are not your only choice for providing spinal
manipulation.
Osteopathic doctors (DOs) are fully credentialed
doctors whose training includes an emphasis on manual therapy. Some
physical therapists also provide spinal manipulation.
So do
physiatrists and some other medical doctors.
Health insurance coverage varies for this type of treatment. So before you start treatment, check to find out whether your practitioner of
choice is covered.
Practitioners who are not medical doctors do not
use medicines or surgery to treat conditions.
Citations
-
Chou R, Huffman LH (2007). Nonpharmacologic therapies
for acute and chronic low back pain: A review of the evidence for an American
Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 147(7):
492–504.
-
Hadler NM (2005). Low back pain. In WJ Koopman, ed.,
Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 15th ed., vol. 2, pp.
2073–2086. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Last Updated:
February 3, 2010
Chou R, Huffman LH (2007). Nonpharmacologic therapies
for acute and chronic low back pain: A review of the evidence for an American
Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 147(7):
492–504.
Hadler NM (2005). Low back pain. In WJ Koopman, ed.,
Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 15th ed., vol. 2, pp.
2073–2086. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
