New study revels chiropractic is the best treatment for neck pain

A new study revels chiropractic care and exercise are the best treatments for neck pain. This is no surprise to me as a chiropractor. According to a new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine studies are now demonstrating that chiropractic care and exercise may be the best treatment for neck pain. (http://www.annals.org/content/156/1_Part_1/1.abstract?aimhp). The research, was funded by the National Institutes of Health, followed 272 patients with new neck pain. These patients were treated using three different methods treatment, exercise, and chiropractic treatment.

After 12 months the people who used chiropractic care or exercised were twice as likely be pain-free when compared to those who used medicine alone. The patients treated using a chiropractic care plan, including cervical adjustments, demonstrated the greatest rate of improvement with 32 percent saying these were pain-free, compared to 30 percent of those that used exercise alone. Finally only 13 percent of patients treated with medication said were pain-free after 12 months.

Now as a chiropractor this doesn't surprise me since neck pain is a bio-mechanical problem. It seems sensible that physical treatments such as chiropractic care and exercise are more effective than a medicine which will is a chemical solution. The pain isn't because of a inefficiency or lack of anti inflammatories. According to an ABC earth News report Dr.John Messmer who focuses on household medicine at Penn State College of Medicine agrees. 'I always prescribe exercises and/or physical treatment for neck pain, ' he wrote. 'I also tell people the drugs are for the symptoms and the exercises would be the treatment '. The exercises given to people in the study were made to be done with the help of simple instructional photos. To see the exercises photos visit here (http://www.annals.org/content/suppl/2011/12/29/156.1_Part_1.1.DC1/156-1-1-supplement.pdf).

You must also bear in mind the other finding of the study that chiropractic care was actually more powerful than even exercise so if your medical practitioner only prescribes exercises and physical therapy remind them that chiropractic is far better and could work well in conjunction with these two treatment plans. It is also very important to remember that chiropractic treatment is not just for neck pain and back pain but a good chiropractor must be part of your health and wellness team. I'll also assign exercises to go with the chiropractic care improving the effectiveness of treatment.

By: Paul R. Mahler DC.
mahler-chiropractic.com