In the past, chiropractic treatment got mixed reviews from physicians. However, in early 2017, The American College of Physicians released new guidelines. It now supports the use of nonpharmacologic therapies, such as chiropractic and acupuncture, as first-line treatments for low back pain, before using medication.

Several studies, including a 2017 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that spinal manipulation reduces lower back pain. While research shows a clear benefit with back and neck pain, the jury on manual therapy for hip and knee arthritis is still out.

“If you have back or neck pain due to osteoarthritis, chiropractic is one of the safest therapies you can use,” explains Scott Haldeman, MD, a neurologist in Santa Ana, California and Chairman Emeritus of the Research Council for the World Federation of Chiropractic. “But if you have an inflammatory disease, like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, you are going to need to be more careful.”

Although chiropractic can relieve pain, there is no clear evidence that chiropractic or any other treatment offers long-term change in the x-ray findings in arthritis,” says Dr. Haldeman.

The bottom line, he says, is chiropractic is worth a try. “However, if any clinician says her treatment will permanently cure your arthritis, you should walk out,” he warns. “If you don’t see improvement within four to ten treatments, either switch chiropractors or try a new treatment path.”

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.