Study: Spinal Manipulation (Chiropractic) Better Than Exercise Alone for Teens With Low Back Pain

Teens with back pain benefit from chiropractic spinal manipulation

Researchers from a study of teenagers with low back pain noted, "Low back pain is common in adolescence, but there is a paucity of high-quality research to inform care." Most medical research for treatment of various conditions is performed on adult patients, with limited study of children and teens. Low back pain research similarly has focused more on adults than children. As a solution to the opioid epidemic and overuse of prescription painkillers, current medical guidelines recommend non-drug treatments like chiropractic (spinal manipulation) and physical therapy (exercises) be used before medications or medical procedures. More doctors are recommending these treatment options and more patients are using them, but how effective are they for teens?

The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain published a randomized trial that compared treating adolescent low back pain with exercise therapy alone or exercise therapy combined with spinal manipulation. Patients were followed for a year and assessed at 12, 26, and 52 weeks. The researchers concluded, "For adolescents with chronic [low back pain], spinal manipulation combined with [exercise therapy] was more effective than exercise alone over a 1-year period, with the largest differences occurring at 6 months." Both groups demonstrated reduced pain, less medication use, and reduced disability with treatment. However, the patients who received spinal manipulation demonstrated significant improvement beyond that provided by exercise, including higher satisfaction.

While both spinal manipulation/adjusting and exercise therapy can be beneficial for back pain, this study confirms the findings of others that have found additional benefit to spinal manipulation. Other studies have also found that when a chiropractic physician manages the case, treatment is more likely to be consistent with treatment guidelines, less advanced imaging and testing is necessary, fewer specialists are required, and overall costs are reduced. For adults and kids, consider chiropractic first for safe and effective back pain treatment.

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