right_choice

Chiropractic: The Right Choice

In the past few years, more and more people are agreeing that chiropractic treatments, including
spinal manipulative therapy, are effective and a beneficial part of a total health care system.
Whereas skeptics once claimed that research to support chiropractic care was non-existent, many
are now realizing that this is no longer true and that Doctors of Chiropractic have the expertise to
diagnose, treat, and/or manage many health problems. It is also well established that chiropractors
will refer to the appropriate medical specialists or health care practitioner if necessary. In actuality,
chiropractic is the RIGHT CHOICE when you want conservative treatment that stresses wellness
and does not employ drugs or surgery.

Education
Doctors of Chiropractic are not only trained in problems dealing with the spine, but are formally
educated in clinical examination and diagnosis of the entire human body. Doctors of Chiropractic
have training comparable to medical or osteopathic doctors in the basic sciences, including
anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc. A report by Meredith Gonyea, Ph.D., President of the Center
for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., found that among all health care professions, "only D.C.s [Doctor
of Chiropractic], M.D.s [Medical Doctors], and D.O.s [Doctors of Osteopathy] focus on health care
interventions for the well being of the whole person." Dr. Gonyea concluded that "the D.C. can be
considered a generalist in the provision of primary health care services and a specialist in the use
of chiropractic treatment methods. The method of practice is similar to the M.D. or D.O. who
provides generalist primary care services and is a specialist in internal medicine".

Effectiveness
Chiropractors are no longer the only ones claiming that chiropractic works. Ph.D.s, M.D.s, even
government agencies are agreeing that the care chiropractors provide is effective for many
conditions.

In England, Dr. T.W. Meade compared the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment to hospital
outpatient treatment of mechanical low-back pain. Dr. Meade found that "chiropractic was more
effective than hospital outpatient management, mainly for patients with chronic or severe back
pain... The benefit of chiropractic treatment became more evident throughout the follow-up period
[two years]. Secondary outcome measures also showed that chiropractic was more beneficial. For
patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated, chiropractic almost
certainly confers worthwhile, long-term benefit in comparison with hospital outpatient management."

A study, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and conducted by Pran Manga, Ph.D., was done
to determine, among other things, the efficacy of chiropractic's management of low back pain
(LBP). Dr. Manga found that 'on the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical
studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative
treatments for LBP." Based on these findings, Dr. Manga recommended that the Ontario Ministry of
Health fully integrate chiropractic into its health care system.

Dr. Manga also found that "there are no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even
implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low back pain... there is
also some evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations are less safe and less
effective when performed by non-chiropractic professionals."

The U.S. government has also taken a giant step in support of spinal manipulation. In December
1994, the Agency for health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), an arm of the Department of
Health and Human Services, published and announced its new clinical practice guideline for the
treatment of acute low back problems in adults. The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary
team that reviewed relevant scientific research on LBP treatments. the AHCPR Guideline panel
found that "for patients with acute low back symptoms with radiculopathy (disease of the spinal
nerve roots), the scientific evidence suggest spinal manipulation is effective in reducing pain and
perhaps speeding recovery within the first month of symptoms." The panel goes on to recommend
spinal manipulation as a first line of treatment for low back problems.

Shortly after the launching of the U.S. Guideline, the British National Health Service announced its
new guideline on back pain, developed by the Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG). Like the
U.S. panel, the British panel found "there is now evidence that manipulation is and effective method
of providing symptomatic relief for some patients..." The British panel recommends and early
conservative intervention for back pain to prevent chronic pain conditions or other potential
complications.

Beyond the Back

Research has found that chiropractic treatment is effective for more than just back pain. For
example, a study conducted to compare chiropractic treatment versus drug therapy (amitriptyline)
for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache, showed that though both offered relief during
the treatment period, 82% of the drug therapy group suffered from adverse side effects, including
dry mouth, drowsiness, and weight gain, while the chiropractic group had virtually no side effects.
Additionally, the chiropractic group showed continued therapeutic benefit four weeks after therapy
had ended; the patients in the drug group were back to the same headache frequency and
severity as their baseline values. Patrick D. Boline, D.C., the principle investigator, concluded, "the
results of this study show that spinal manipulation therapy is an effective treatment for tension
headaches."

A randomized pilot study on chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment for primary dysmenorrhea
(menstrual cramps) found that "immediately after treatment, the perception of pain and the level of
menstrual distress were significantly reduced by SMT [spinal manipulative therapy]". A larger,
randomized clinical trial by the same researchers is currently underway that will further evaluate
these results.

Research is currently being done to investigate chiropractic's effectiveness for asthma, infantile
colic, otitis media (ear infection), hypertension (high blood pressure), scoliosis (curvature of the
spine), carpal tunnel syndrome, and migraine headaches, among others.

Treatment for Total Well Being

Apart of spinal manipulation, Doctors of Chiropractic take the time to counsel their patients in the
prevention of disease and the methods for living a healthy lifestyle. A survey of chiropractors in
medically undeserved rural America showed that "one hundred percent of those responded noted
that they provide guidance on exercise to their patients. Additionally, 94% of the chiropractors
surveyed responded that they counsel patients on lifestyle modifications (smoking cessation,
weight loss, etc), while 88% offer nutritional advice to patients".

A related survey of chiropractic patients in rural America revealed that "survey respondents report
satisfaction with :

their chiropractic treatment, in general (over 99% satisfied to very satisfied)
their ability to see the doctor in a reasonable amount of time when care is needed (99% good to
very good)
their access to a chiropractor in an emergency situation (98% good to very good)
the contribution of chiropractic care to their living a healthier, more fit lifestyle (99% somewhat to
definitely).
Respondents believe that as a result of their chiropractic care:

their physical problem or condition has improved (98% somewhat to definitely)
they have less pain (99% somewhat to definitely)
they are taking less medication (71% yes)
their overall health has improved since first receiving chiropractic care (87% better to much better)".

Summing Up
By seeking chiropractic care, you have made the right choice for your health. Doctors of
Chiropractic are able to diagnose many diseases and disorders, and will refer you to another
practitioner if need be. Millions of people worldwide choose chiropractic care for natural well-being.

LET CHIROPRACTIC BE THE RIGHT
CHOICE FOR YOU!