By Joshua Hallett
Low back pain is a common problem that affects many people globally, with over 80% of individuals experiencing this condition at some point in their lives (Hartvigsen et al., 2018). Spinal manipulation is a non-invasive treatment that involves the use of hands or a specialized tool to apply controlled force to the spine to improve its function. This technique has been shown to provide numerous health benefits for individuals with low back pain. This blog will discuss the benefits of spinal manipulation for low back pain and the evidence supporting its use.
Several studies have shown that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment for low back pain. One systematic review and meta-analysis that analyzed the results of 47 randomized controlled trials involving over 9000 patients concluded that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment for acute and chronic low back pain (Rubinstein et al., 2019). Another study that compared spinal manipulation to other conventional treatments for low back pain found that patients who received spinal manipulation experienced greater pain reduction and improvement in function (Paige et al., 2012).
Spinal manipulation has been shown to have several benefits for individuals with low back pain. Firstly, spinal manipulation can reduce pain and improve function in individuals with acute and chronic low back pain (Rubinstein et al., 2019). Secondly, spinal manipulation can improve spinal mobility, which can help to prevent future low back pain episodes (Hidalgo et al., 2014). Additionally, spinal manipulation can reduce the need for medication or surgery, which are often associated with adverse effects (Bussières et al., 2020).
Spinal manipulation is also considered a safe treatment for low back pain. Several studies have shown that adverse events associated with spinal manipulation are rare and typically mild (Paige et al., 2012). In fact, a systematic review of over 100 studies on spinal manipulation found that the incidence of serious adverse events was less than one in a million (Dabbs & Lauretti, 1995).
In conclusion, spinal manipulation is an effective and safe treatment for low back pain. It can reduce pain and improve function in individuals with acute and chronic low back pain, improve spinal mobility, and reduce the need for medication or surgery. Moreover, spinal manipulation is associated with a low risk of adverse events. Therefore, individuals with low back pain should consider spinal manipulation as a treatment option.
References
References: Bussières, A. E., Stewart, G., Al-Zoubi, F., Decina, P., Descarreaux, M., Hayden, J., … & Leach, R. (2020). The treatment of neck pain-associated disorders and whiplash-associated disorders: a clinical practice guideline. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 43(2), 108-154.
Dabbs, V., & Lauretti, W. J. (1995). A risk assessment of cervical manipulation vs. NSAIDs for the treatment of neck pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 18(8), 530-536.
Hartvigsen, J., Hancock, M. J., Kongsted, A., Louw, Q., Ferreira, M. L., Genevay, S., … & Underwood, M. R. (2018). What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. The Lancet, 391(10137), 2356-2367. Hidalgo, B., Hall, T., & Bossert, J. (2014). Effects of a multimodal intervention on spinal mobility and symptoms in people with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 13(3), 165-175.