Chiropractic manipulation for non-spinal pain--a systematic review.

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Chiropractic manipulation for non-spinal pain--a systematic review.
2003
Ernst E
N Z Med J
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

Abstract
AIMS: Chiropractic manipulation is mostly used for spinal problems but, in an increasing number of cases, also for non-spinal conditions. This systematic review is aimed at critically evaluating the evidence for or against the effectiveness of this approach. METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched for all randomised clinical trials of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of non-spinal pain. They were evaluated according to standardised criteria. RESULTS: Eight such studies were identified. They related to the following conditions: fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, infantile colic, otitis media, dysmenorrhoea and chronic pelvic pain. Their methodological quality ranged from mostly poor to excellent. Their findings do not demonstrate that chiropractic manipulation is an effective therapy for any of these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Only very few randomised clinical trials of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of non-spinal conditions exist. The claim that this approach is effective for such conditions is not based on data from rigorous clinical trials.

MeSH
Humans; Manipulation, Chiropractic; Pain; Randomized Controlled Trials

Author Address
Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter, United Kingdom. Edzard.Ernst@pms.ac.uk

MEDLINE record details

Publication Type:
Journal Article; Review

ISSN:
1175-8716

Country:
New Zealand

Language:
eng

Date of Entry:
20030926

Unique Identifier:
14513080

Journal Subset:
IM

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