Dallas Chiropractor Best Practices
Research Commentary;
Chiropractic Adjustments vs. Muscle Relaxants
for Subacute Low Back Pain
A review of
Hoiriis, K. T., Pfleger, B., McDuffie, F. C., Cotsonis, G., Elsangak, O., Hinson, R., & Verzosa, G. T. (2004, August 19). A randomized clinical trial comparing chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475404000983?casa_token=tdw2I3hThlgAAAAA%3AlKuJtHSmCUIDuKgwrIHz81qI3xZiIU3CieBAdED1hfCQPpNm5WtLQ0xTKJynmR8-va9fwh4ELDk
Research Reviewed by Dr. Antonio Flaquer
Summarized Review of Conclusion:
This study identified a sample population of subacute low back pain sufferers for chiropractic care and conservative medical care of muscle relaxants. The chiropractic group responded better to care in having a decrease in pain and soreness than the muscle relaxant group.
Below I have referenced key quotes from this research to help summarize the results.
Quotes from the Article:
“After the 2-week intervention phase, chiropractic adjustments were shown to be statistically more beneficial than placebo in reducing pain and more beneficial than placebo or muscle relaxants in reducing GIS; however, there were no differences across groups for disability.”
“In this study, care was restricted to 2 weeks, although in practice, chiropractors typically see patients for longer periods. Other trials comparing chiropractic adjustments to medical care for LBP allowed for 9 visits over 1 month, 10 treatments over 1 year, or, in a childhood asthma study, 20 to 36 visits over 4 months. Though improvement was marked and rapid in the present trial, providing the chiropractors with more latitude in their care plan might have provided additional benefit.”
“Chiropractic was more beneficial than placebo in reducing pain and more beneficial than either placebo or muscle relaxants in reducing GIS.”
Introduction to the Research
The purpose of the research was to determine to comparison of chiropractic treatment and muscle relaxants for patients with low back pain.
Research Methodology
Subjects (N = 192) experiencing low back pain of 2 to 6 weeks’ duration were randomly allocated to 3 groups with interventions applied over 2 weeks. Interventions were either chiropractic adjustments with placebo medicine, muscle relaxants with sham adjustments, or placebo medicine with sham adjustments. Visual Analog Scale for Pain, Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and Modified Zung Depression Scale were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Schober’s flexibility test, acetaminophen usage, and Global Impression of Severity Scale (GIS), a physician’s clinical impression used as a secondary outcome, were assessed at baseline and 2 weeks.
Research Findings
The biggest takeaway from this article is we need to continue moving and restoring motion throughout our spine to help decrease inflammation (pain). As said in the research, chiropractic care showed a significant improvement in low back pain compared to the muscle relaxants and that was from only 2 weeks of visit whereas some care plans are usually longer to help the patient stay out of pain rather than just get them out of pain. Chiropractic care is essential for everybody and is essential to helping us keep our spines moving.
Research References
As always with these reviews, these are my takeaways from the article and I encourage you to read the article in its entirety. The references used in this article by the authors of this article are listed here.
Our Message
We know how important it is to find a Chiropractor near you that you can trust. At our Dallas location, near the corner of Mockingbird Ln., and Abrams Rd., our Chiropractors make sure our patients get the best understanding of their pain and their health. Our Doctors want to get you out of pain without medication, usual medical procedures or expensive surgeries. We also take the time to teach you how live a lifestyle that will keep you out of pain.