Study: Improvement in low-back pain for military patients receiving chiropractic

April 17, 2013 — Patients with acute low-back pain receiving a combination of chiropractic manipulative therapy and standard medical care experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in their back pain and improved physical functioning when compared to those receiving standard medical care alone, reports an article in the April 15 issue of Spine (go to journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2013/04150/Adding_Chiropractic_Manipulative_Therapy_to.2.aspx to access the online version).

The pragmatic, patient-centered, two-arm randomized controlled trial pilot study was funded by a grant from Samueli Institute, Alexandria Va., and conducted from February 2008 to June 2009 at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. Participants were 91 active-duty military personnel between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

“While a number of studies have shown spinal manipulation to be effective in treating low back pain in research settings, the appropriate role of chiropractic care in treating low back pain within the health care delivery system, including the military, has not been clearly established,” said study Principal Investigator Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, vice chancellor for research and health policy for Palmer College of Chiropractic. “We know very little about the impact of chiropractic manipulative therapy on diverse populations in real-world settings. This study is the first step in filling that gap in our knowledge.”

“It is critical that we explore drug-less approaches to reduce pain,” said Wayne B. Jonas, MD, president and CEO of Samueli Institute. “Chiropractic manipulation is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders, which is the most prevalent pain complaint in the military.”

Study highlights included:

• Adjusted mean Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scores were significantly better in the standard medical care plus chiropractic manipulative therapy group than in the standard medical care group at both week two (8.9 vs. 12.9; p = <0.001) and week four (8.0 vs. 12.0; p = 0.004),
• Mean Numerical Pain Rating Scale (0-10) scores were significantly improved in the group that received chiropractic manipulative therapy when compared to standard medical care alone at both week two (3.9 vs. 6.1; p = <0.001) and week four (3.9 vs. 5.2; p = < 0.02),
• Seventy-three percent of participants in the standard medical care plus chiropractic manipulative therapy group rated their global improvement as pain completely gone, much better or moderately better, compared to 17 percent in the standard medical care group.

Col. Richard Petri is the Chief of the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center (IPMC) at WBAMC.  “This is a significant step for recognizing the value of chiropractic care in the military,” he said. “Continued research in this area will ultimately result in better healthcare delivery systems as well as the improved health of our beneficiaries.”

“While these findings are exciting, they need to be confirmed with additional research that replicates this study on a larger scale,” Goertz added. “Palmer College, the RAND Corporation and Samueli Institute received a $7.4 million, four-year grant from the Department of Defense last year to conduct a similar multi-site clinical trial, this time with a sample size of 750 active-duty military personnel.”

Additional study authors are:

• Cynthia R. Long, PhD, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
• Maria A. Hondras, DC, MPH, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
• Richard Petri, MD, Physical Medicine and Integrative Care Services, Ft. Bliss, Texas
• Roxana Delgado, MS, Samueli Institute
• Dana J. Lawrence, DC, MMedEd, MA, Palmer College of Chiropractic
• Edward F. Owens, Jr., MS, DC, TriMax Direct, St. Paul, Minn.
• William C. Meeker, DC, MPH, Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus

Source: Palmer College of Chiropractic, palmer.edu