Lumbago and lower back pain

Low back pain

Low back pain is undoubtedly the condition most frequently encountered in chiropractic practice. Whether it is chronic or acute, we treat it every day.

A major and very interesting study on low back pain was carried out in England in the 1990s. This study enabled English chiropractors to be officially recognised in 1994:

“Low back pain: A comparison between a chiropractic approach and hospital outpatient management. A randomised trial.” Meade TW, Dyer S, et al. British Medical Journal 1990-1995; 300: 1431-1437.

This very large study in Great Britain, directed by T.W. Meade, M.D., compared chiropractic treatment with outpatient hospital treatment. The study concluded that

For patients suffering from mechanical low back pain, chiropractic treatment provides a valid and lasting benefit in the vast majority of cases, far superior to conventional outpatient hospital treatment.

Given the positive results of this initial study, Dr Meade continued his investigations.

The researchers noted a much greater long-term improvement than conventional treatments.

The authors conclude: after 3 years, the results confirm the findings of an earlier report, namely that when chiropractors or hospital therapists treat patients suffering from mechanical low back pain, as they often do in everyday practice, those treated by chiropractors derive greater long-term benefit and satisfaction than those treated in hospitals.