This is the first in a two-part piece exploring the scientific and clinical evidence for chiropractic effectiveness. Next week, Ask Your Chiropractor will compare the education of a doctor of chiropractic with that of a medical doctor.

Italian study conducted jointly by 22 medical clinics:

A two-year study was conducted by 22 medically licensed back pain clinics in Italy. Patients, 17,142 in total, under chiropractic care were studied to assess the effectiveness, safety and acceptability of alternative health care techniques so that more adequate, cost-effective therapies could be chosen for patient care. The study evaluated the effects of spinal and pelvic adjustments performed by chiropractors. None of the conclusions originated from chiropractic sources.

Conclusions: Patients receiving chiropractic care during a two-year period had their absence from work reduced by 75.55 per cent and their number of hospitalisations reduced by 87.6 per cent. Spinal adjustments proved to be very successful in curtailing health care costs in general, particularly hospital costs, insurance costs and the loss of productivity caused by work absence. The report noted that long-standing chronic biomechanical dysfunctions in the body, even if not displaying overt symptoms, could ultimately be the source of potential future pain months or even years later. The report observed that chiropractic’s effectiveness lies in its ability to improve the quality of life, which has curative, preventive, and rehabilitative benefits.

The Hendryson Report — a military orthopaedic ward study:

During WWII Irvin Hendryson, MD, a member of the American Medical Association board of trustees, conducted a clinical comparison study of GIs treated medically. The army provided him with an ideal climate of patient control, and little patient rapport other than discussion of the soldiers’ specific ailments. He sent the results of his study to the AMA, which years later were made public.

Conclusions: Chiropractic had impressive success with some medical failures, and the chiropractic adjustments were at least as effective as some of the best army treatments available. Therefore, chiropractic care should be an integral part of all medical orthopaedic wards. He also noted that chiropractic had significant success with women in their third trimester of pregnancy, as women were able to carry and deliver their children with more comfort when receiving chiropractic adjustments.

The Silverman AV Med HMO Study:

A clinical study was performed using the first 100 patients sent to the Silverman Chiropractic centre by AV Med, the largest medical health maintenance organisation in the south-eastern United States.

Conclusions: Prior to chiropractic adjustments, 80 of 100 patients were treated medically, seeing an average of 1.6 medical doctors without results. Seventeen were medically diagnosed with disc problems, and 12 were diagnosed as needing disc surgery. After chiropractic adjustments, 86 per cent had their ailments corrected, none required surgery, and none were made worse.

Herbert Davis, MD, medical director of AV Med and author of the study, concluded that chiropractic adjustments saved AV Med US$250,000 in surgical costs. He further admitted that he was originally a sceptic, and the study proved to be an “eye-opening experience” on the effectiveness of chiropractic.

Oregon Worker’s Compensation Study:

A review of worker’s compensation records compiled in a study by Rolland A Martin, MD, in 1971 compared the results of chiropractic and medical treatment for patients with comparable back ailments.

Conclusions: 82 per cent returned to work within one week under chiropractic care, and 42 per cent returned to work within one week under medical care.Therefore, patients under chiropractic care got well in one-half the time as those under medical care, and suffered only one-half as much.

State of California Industrial Back Injury Study:

In a study conducted by Richard Wolf, MD, in 1972, 1,000 patients were questioned about work time loss and residual pain. Six hundred and twenty-nine responded, with 50 per cent treated medically and 50 per cent receiving chiropractic care.

Patient time loss was cut in half with chiropractic care in all three categories, suggesting that chiropractic is very effective for back injuries.

Don’t forget to “Ask Your Chiropractor” every week where your questions may be published and answered in subsequent articles. Address questions to: Dr Chris Davis, the Spinal Mechanic and lead doctor, at movethebone@gmail.com; or, Dr Michael Harvey, director, at dr.michael_harvey@yahoo.com.