August 2004

Merck Manual accepts FCER’s correction

The Merck Manual , an important reference used by physicians, has accepted a correction concerning spinal manipulation submitted by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER).

In July 2004, a doctor of chiropractic voiced concern to FCER over wording appearing in the reference book. The book stated:

"Manipulation may help pain caused by muscle spasm alone but may aggravate an arthritic joint or further rupture a disk and should thus be used with caution."

FCER wrote to the editor of the publication and identified the problems with the statement.

On July 27, 2004, Merck responded:

“We have completely rewritten the chapter on back pain and the statement you objected to is no longer present … We do comment on the helpfulness of spinal manipulation but retained a statement of caution in those with the possibility of nerve damage from disk disease. This statement does not single out chiropractic interventions: We include them with almost every intervention … for the first time, we will have a separate entry on chiropractic.”

The full letter to Merck and its response are on the FCER Web site.

Source: Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, www.fcer.org

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