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Chiropractic manipulation for non-spinal pain--a systematic review
1Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter, United Kingdom. Edzard.Ernst@pms.ac.uk
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|September 27, 2003
Summary
Chiropractic manipulation is increasingly used for non-spinal conditions, but evidence from randomized clinical trials does not support its effectiveness for these ailments. Further rigorous research is needed to validate these claims.
Area of Science:
- Evidence-based practice
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Systematic review
Background:
- Chiropractic manipulation is commonly used for spinal issues.
- Its application is expanding to non-spinal conditions.
- Evaluating the efficacy for non-spinal conditions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the evidence for chiropractic manipulation in treating non-spinal conditions.
- To determine if current research supports its effectiveness beyond spinal problems.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
- Searched five electronic databases for relevant studies.
- Evaluated study quality using standardized criteria.
Main Results:
- Eight RCTs were identified, covering conditions like fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, infantile colic, otitis media, dysmenorrhea, and chronic pelvic pain.
- Methodological quality of the included studies varied significantly.
- No studies demonstrated chiropractic manipulation as an effective therapy for the non-spinal conditions reviewed.
Conclusions:
- A limited number of RCTs exist for chiropractic manipulation in non-spinal conditions.
- Current evidence does not support the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation for non-spinal conditions.
- Claims of efficacy for non-spinal conditions lack support from rigorous clinical trials.