Dallas Chiropractors Best Practices
Best Treatment for Low Back Pain
A review of:
Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Townsend J, Frank AO. Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment. BMJ. 1990 Jun 2;300(6737):1431-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.300.6737.1431. PMID: 2143092; PMCID: PMC1663160.
Reviewed by Dr. John Wertish
Summarized Review of Conclusions
For patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long term benefit in comparison with hospital outpatient management. The benefit is seen mainly in those with chronic or severe pain. Introducing chiropractic into NHS practice should be considered. Chiropractic treatment was more effective than hospital outpatient management, mainly for patients with chronic or severe back pain. A benefit of about 7% points on the Oswestry scale was seen at two years. The benefit of chiropractic treatment became more evident throughout the follow up period. Secondary outcome measures also showed that chiropractic was more beneficial.
Quotes from the Article
“The benefit of chiropractic treatment became more evident throughout the follow up period. Secondary outcome measures also showed that chiropractic was more beneficial.”
“Whatever the explanation for the difference between the two approaches, however, this pragmatic comparison of two types of treatment used in day to day practice shows that patients treated by chiropractors were not only no worse off than those treated in hospital but almost certainly fared considerably better and that they maintained their improvement for at least two years “
Introduction to the Research
Chiropractic care has been studied for decades and has won in different countries, being the leading solution for neck and back pain. The Meade study was done to compare chiropractic care and hospital outpatient treatment for managing low back pain of mechanical origin. This was a randomised controlled trial that compared short term benefits reducing pain and long-term outcomes, measured after a 2 year follow up, using the Oswestry scale. With mechanical pain the joints needs to move properly. Reduced range of motion can cause changes in the soft tissue and nerves surrounding the joint. With manual manipulation of the joints it increases range of motion causing the tissue to heal and stay healthy.
Research Methodology
741 Patients aged 18-65 who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the past month. Treatment at the discretion of the chiropractors, who used chiropractic manipulation in most patients, or of the hospital staff, who most commonly used Maitland mobilisation or manipulation, or both. Changes in the score on the Oswestry pain disability questionnaire and in the results of tests of straight leg raising and lumbar flexion.
Research Findings
When the results were confined to patients with complete follow up data for two years, however, the patients in both referral groups who were treated by chiropractic tended to show greater improvement throughout the follow up. The results were also analysed according to length of the current episode of pain. In both groups those treated by chiropractors improved more than those as treated in hospital, the benefit possibly being seen somewhat earlier in those with a long current episode the (table V). There was no difference between the two lent treatments in those with no history of back pain, but nt) chiropractic treatment was more effective than hospital treatment in those with a history. Figure 3 shows that those with Oswestry scores >40% at entry responded better to chiropractic treatment (by 13% at two years) than those with scores -40%. Between follow up at one and two years 17% (18/107) of those initially treated by chiropractors had further chiropractic treatment and 24% (22/92) of those initially treated in hospital had further hospital treatment.
Research References
1) Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Townsend J, Frank AO. Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment. BMJ. 1990 Jun
Our Message
When you are looking for a Chiropractor near you that you can trust, choose one who will not only help you avoid back pain while sitting but who will also guide you to living a healthier lifestyle to keep you out of pain. Our Chiropractors located in East Dallas, near the corner of Mockingbird Ln. and Abrams Rd., will teach you what the research says about why we should eat a better diet, move more and have more positive thoughts.