Chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain: a systematic review.

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Chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain: a systematic review.
2003
Ernst E
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Elsevier

Abstract
Chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) is often used as a treatment for neck pain. However, its effectiveness is unclear. The aim of this article was to evaluate systematically and critically the effectiveness of CSM for neck pain. Six electronic databases were searched for all relevant randomized clinical trials. Strict inclusion/exclusion criteria had been predefined. Key data were validated and extracted. Methodologic quality was assessed by using the Jadad score. Statistical pooling was anticipated but was deemed not feasible. Four studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two studies were on single interventions, and 2 included series of CSM treatments, both with a 12-month follow-up. The 2 short-term trials used spinal mobilization as a control intervention. The 2 long-term studies compared CSM with exercise therapy. None of the 4 trials convincingly demonstrated the superiority of CSM over control interventions. In conclusion, the notion that CSM is more effective than conventional exercise treatment in the treatment of neck pain was not supported by rigorous trial data.

MeSH
Exercise Therapy; Humans; Manipulation, Chiropractic; Neck Pain; Randomized Controlled Trials

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

MEDLINE record details

Publication Type:
Comment; Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Review

ISSN:
1526-5900

Country:
United States

Language:
eng

Date of Entry:
20031119

Unique Identifier:
14622659

Journal Subset:
IM

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