Spinal manipulation as a valid treatment for low back pain

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Health
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Chiropractic practice in Delaware is regulated since 1937, marked by historical tensions with the medical field.
• Despite past victories and hospital integrations, chiropractic has not achieved full interprofessional acceptance.
• A growing minority of physicians and researchers advocate for spinal manipulation's benefits, particularly for low back pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform Delaware physicians about the evidence supporting spinal manipulation for low back pain.
• To encourage understanding and potential collaboration between medical doctors and doctors of chiropractic.
• To highlight the growing recognition of chiropractic's clinical efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific evidence on spinal manipulation efficacy.
• Analysis of the historical and current relationship between medicine and chiropractic.
• Examination of trends in interprofessional referrals and managed care policies.

Main Results:

• Despite historical conflict, scientific evidence increasingly supports spinal manipulation for low back pain.
• Hospital acceptance of chiropractors is often economically driven rather than clinically recognized.
• Managed care programs are beginning to necessitate physician knowledge of chiropractic referrals.

Conclusions:

• Increased knowledge and evidence of spinal manipulation's benefits are expected to foster greater interprofessional referrals.
• Physicians need foundational knowledge of spinal manipulation to guide patient referrals effectively.
• Collaboration between MDs and DCs holds significant potential benefit for patient populations.