New
Zealanders should think twice before resorting to pain relief medication, the
country’s chiropractors advised today. They point out that treatment by a
qualified chiropractor and light exercise may be the best way to relieve neck
pain, according to new research.
The New
Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) says the results stress that
arthritis and muscular pain require more than just a drug-treatment approach.
A study,
conducted by a team from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota,
just published in the Annals of Internal
Medicine found that chiropractic treatment results in better
outcomes than common pain relief drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
The study involved more than 270 adults suffering from different types of neck pain, who were divided into three groups. One group had sessions with a chiropractor, and the second group took common pain medication. The third group was given advice from a chiropractor and encouraged to do a set of gentle exercises
The study involved more than 270 adults suffering from different types of neck pain, who were divided into three groups. One group had sessions with a chiropractor, and the second group took common pain medication. The third group was given advice from a chiropractor and encouraged to do a set of gentle exercises
Dr Hayden Thomas, chiropractor and spokesperson for
the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association explains: `After 12 weeks, the group that received spinal manual
therapy from the chiropractor had significantly less pain than patients from
the group that took pain medication.’
He points that the patients in the chiropractic and
exercise groups maintained their improvement after one year, but that in
addition to their limited pain relief, the people on medications kept taking
them.
‘This is not a good approach. Taking these
medications for up to a year can lead to all sorts of systemic side effects
such as gastrointestinal problems; most frequently internal bleeding.’
It was found that 32% of the patients treated by a chiropractor and 30% of those who exercised reported being completely pain free, compared to just 13 per cent of the group treated with medication.
All three groups
had pain relief, but spinal manipulation by a chiropractor was more effective
than pain medication in both the short and long term. Home exercises were also
effective at relieving pain after participants were given instructional
sessions in stretching. The study is the first large federally funded study to
compare the different treatments.
Dr Thomas adds: `As a professional
association we welcome evidence based care. The perception of pain is very
subjective but the large number of patients in this study reduces the influence
of social and cultural factors. We believe that work like this will make it
more likely that patients get appropriate treatment.’
Neck pain affects nearly 75 percent of the
population and according to another recent study women consistently report
experiencing more pain, for back and neck pain, knee and ankles strains,
complications of HIV, and sinusitis. The results were reported online in the Journal
of Pain.
For further
information on the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association visit www.chiropractic.org.nz.
-Ends-
Further Information:
Dr Hayden Thomas, Chiropractor 027 299 9939
About the New Zealand Chiropractor's
Association: The New Zealand Chiropractor's Association (NZCA)
was founded in the 1930's. It is a voluntary, self-regulating, supervisory body
serving both the chiropractic profession and the public of New Zealand. The
purpose of the NZCA is to maintain professional standards, liaise with various
government and health bodies, and to be a professional voice for chiropractic.
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