Statistics tell us that 80% of the population will develop some form of lower back pain in their lifetime. It is the second leading reason people visit their physicians second only to the common cold.
Because back pain has had such a large financial impact on our western society, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services conducted a five-year study to determine the most effective forms of treatment for acute low back pain. The results concluded that relief “can be accomplished most safely with non-prescription medications and/or spinal manipulation [adjustments].” (Bigos, et. al. Acute low back problems in adults. Clinical Practice Guideline, No. 14. AHCPR Publication 95-0642. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1994.)
Doctor of Chiropractic performs approximately 95% of all spinal manipulations.
Another government study conducted in Canada found that chiropractic was more effective at treating low back pain than medical means. In fact, they found the most commonly used medical treatments to have questionable value. (Manga, et. al. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic management of low-back pain. Pran Manga and Associates. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 1993)