Ample evidence of the effectiveness of chiropractic care is well documented:

The federal government’s Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)(2) released national guidelines for acute low back pain in 1994 recommending spinal manipulation as a primary, first line treatment for this condition.

The British government followed with similar guidelines of their own in 1996. (3)

These guidelines were developed after exhaustive review of all existing research on low back pain by a multi-disciplinary panel of medical researchers including MD’s, DO’s, DC’s and PHD’s.

In 1990, the British medical Journal published a study reporting chiropractic treatment was more effective than outpatient hospital management of low back pain.

It stated, "our results suggest that there may be a reduction of some 290,000 days in sickness absence during two years, saving about 13 million pounds in output (work) and 2.9 million pounds in social security payments."

The British Medical Journal published a follow-up to that study in 1995 revealing that chiropractic patients were much more satisfied with their care as compared to medical management and that cost savings were significant.

In 1993 a study funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health was published revealing significant costs savings if back pain conditions were to be shifted to chiropractic care rather than limiting chiropractic access. The study revealed the following:

• Spinal manipulation done by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than other forms of treatment for low back pain.
• Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain.
• There is an overwhelming body of evidence indicating that chiropractic management of low back pain is more cost effective than medical management.
• There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was transferred from medical physicians to chiropractors. Evidence from Canada and other countries suggest potential savings of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
• There is good empirical evidence that patients are very satisfied with chiropractic management of low back pain and considerably less satisfied with medical management.

In February 2000, the final report was published on the United States Department of Defense (DOD) five-year pilot program providing chiropractic care to military personnel.

• The DOD pilot program demonstrated that military personnel who received chiropractic care had significantly higher levels of satisfaction with the care they received as compared to personnel who only received conventional medical care.
• Chiropractic patients had significantly superior outcomes compared to those receiving medical care.
• The pilot program demonstrated that chiropractic care would reduce hospitalizations, return injured patients to work quicker, saving over 199,000 workdays and resulting in improved readiness of the United States Military.
• Muse and Associates, a Washington based research and consulting firm, reviewed the pilot program'’ data and concluded that including chiropractic care in the military would result in a net savings to the Department of Defense in excess of $25 million per year.
• A recent John Hopkins University study revealed that musculoskeletal injuries comprise the largest single cause of medical discharge from the military. Chiropractic care specializes in musculoskeletal injuries.

There are numerous other studies available suggesting further support for increased chiropractic utilization resulting in cost savings and better outcomes. Furthermore, There are numerous studies documenting the effectiveness of chiropractic care for other neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, neck pain and chronic myofascial pain syndromes.

References

• State of Maine, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance, Report on Chiropractic Care Under Health Maintenance Organizations to the Banking and Insurance Committee of the 119^th legislature. 1998.

• Bigos S. et al. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults: Assessment and Treatment. 1994.

• Waddell G, Feder G et al. London: Royal College of General Practitioners. Low Back Pain Evidence Review. 1996.

• Meade TW, Dyer S et al. British Medical Journal 300: 1431-37. Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin: Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Treatment. 1990.

• Meade TW, Dyer S et al British Medical Journal 311:349-351. Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Management for Low back Pain: Results from Extended Follow-Up. 1995.

• Manga P, Angus D. University of Ottawa, Ontario Ministry of Health. The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low Back Pain. 1993

• Manga P, Angus D. University of Ottawa, Ontario Ministry of Health. Enhanced Chiropractic Coverage Under OHIP as a Means of Reducing Health Care Costs, Attaining Better Health Outcomes and Improving the Public’s Access to Cost-Effective Health Services. 1998

• Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Final Report, Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Program. Contract No DASW01-95-D-0026 Delivery Order 0116. February 10,2000