"Numerous studies throughout the world have shown that chiropractic treatment, including manipulative therapy and spinal adjustment, is both safe and effective". Source: BCA.

Everything stated on this website is backed up by peer reviewed evidence. Chiropractic is fast becoming one of the most researched healthcare disciplines due to its increasing popularity. There is more research demonstrating the effectiveness of chiropractic care for low back pain than any other complaint.

If you want to know the facts, then look at some of the research papers below. Alternatively follow the link to view research on the British Chiropractic Association website:
http://www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk/For-Health-Care-Professionals-Research-12-mi.aspx

BACK PAIN:
Spinal manipulation improved mean disability scores more than exercise alone. The two combined showed the greatest levels of improvement. No Serious adverse reactions occurred. UK BEAM trial, 2004. United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care. British Medical Journal, 329 (7479): 1377.

BACK PAIN:
When comparing pain and patient satisfaction of those with back pain, about 29% more improvement was noted by patients treated by chiropractors when compared to those treated by a hospital.
Meade, T.W., Dyer, S., Browne, W. and Frank, A.O., 1995. Randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment for low back pain: results from extended follow up. British Medical Journal, 311, 349-351.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Spinal manipulation of the hand and Graston instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation were trailed on patients. After both manual therapy interventions, there were improvements to nerve conduction latencies, wrist strength, and wrist motion. The improvements detected by our subjective evaluations of the signs and symptoms of CTS and patient satisfaction with the treatment outcomes provided additional evidence for the clinical efficacy of these 2 manual therapies for CTS. The improvements were maintained at 3 months for both treatment interventions.
Burke, J., Buchberger, D.J., Carey-Loghmani, T., Dougherty, P.E., Greco, D.S. and Dishman, J.D., 2007.A pilot study comparing two manual therapy interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 30 (1), 50-61.

COST:
: In 1998, it was found the direct health care cost of back pain in the UK to be £1632 million. However, the cost of informal care and the production losses related to it came to a total of £10688 million. Overall, back pain is one of the most costly conditions for which an economic analysis has been carried out in the UK and this is in line with findings in other countries.
Maniadakis, N. and Gray, Alastair, 2000. The economic burden of back pain in the UK. Pain, 84, 95-103.

COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
Spinal manipulation is a cost effective addition to "best care" for back pain in general practice. Manipulation alone probably gives better value for money than manipulation followed by exercise.
UK BEAM trial, 2004. United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: cost effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care. British Medical Journal, 329 (7479): 1381

DISC HERNIATION:
Spinal manipulation provided better short and long-term functional improvement, and more pain relief in the follow-up than either back school or individual physiotherapy.
Murphy, D.R., Hurwitz, E.L. and McGovern, E.E., 2009. A nonsurgical approach to the management of patients with lumbar radiculopathy secondary to herniated disk: a prospective observational cohort study with follow-up. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 32 (9), 723-733.

HEADACHES:
Evidence suggests that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches.
Bryans, R., Descarreaux, M., Duranleau, M., Marcoux, H., Potter, B., Ruegg, R., Shaw, L., Watkin, R. andWhite, E., 2011. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 34 (5), 274-289.

HEADACHES:
This paper systematically reviewed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on manual therapies for migraine. The RCTs suggest that massage therapy, physiotherapy, relaxation and chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy might be equally effective as propranolol and topiramate in the prophylactic management of migraine.
Chaibi, A., Tuchin, P.J. and Russell, M.B., 2011. Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 12 (20, 127-133.

NECK PAIN:
529 subjects with neck pain were investigated, representing 4891 treatments. Only 5 subjects (1%) reported to be much worse at 12 months. No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period. Of the patients who returned for a fourth visit, approximately half reported to be recovered, whereas approximately two thirds of the cohort was recovered at 3 months.
Rubinstein, S.M., Leboeuf-Yde, C., Knol, D.L., de Koekkoek, T.E., Pfeifle, C.E. and van Tulder, M.W., 2007. The benefits outweigh the risks for patients undergoing chiropractic care for neck pain: a prospective, multicentre, cohort study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 30 (6), 408-418.

OSTEOARTHRITIS (HIP):
Four patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis had decreases in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores and increases in hip range of motion after chiropractic management. Further research in the form of large scale randomized controlled trials is needed to investigate the effectiveness and clinical significance of chiropractic management for hip osteoarthritis.
De Luca, K., Pollard, H., Brantingham, J., Globe, G. and Cassa, T., 2010. Chiropractic management of the kinetic chain for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis: an Australian case series a report o 10 cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33 (6), 474-479.

OSTEOARTHRITIS (LOW BACK):
Chiropractic care combined with heat is more effective than heat alone for treating OA-based lower back pain. Pain reduction occurs more rapidly and to a greater degree, and ROM increases more rapidly and to a greater degree.
Beyerman, K.L., Palmerino, M.B., Zohn, L.E., Kane, G.M. and Foster, K.A., 2006. Efficacy of treating low back pain and dysfunction secondary to osteoarthritis: chiropractic care compared with mosit heat alone. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 29 (2), 107-114.

PAEDATRICS:
The number of children visiting chiropractors is increasing. Research into the effectiveness of chiropractic care for paediatric patients has lagged behind that of adult care. Chiropractic clinical education prepares the student to assess and manage (or co-manage as appropriate) the paediatric patient with a musculoskeletal problem, as this is where most of the research lies. However, more and more research is investigating non-musculoskeletal conditions. Chiropractors are beginning to help those children with more difficult symptoms, because although evidence is limited, it is also limited for most other forms of paediatric care. For example, this study says this makes a therapeutic trial of chiropractic care for infantile colic a viable alternative for the parents to consider when evaluating the full picture of available, effective treatments.
Vallone, S.A., Miller, J. and Braham-Floreani, 2010. Chiropractic approach to the management of children. Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 18 (1), 1-8.

POSTURE:
Forward head posture is the most common defect found in a variety of professionals. This leads to ‘straight spine syndrome’ (SSS), an early functional stage, and can lead to serious compression of cervical nerve roots. Education programmes on right posture, ergonomics, and regular corrective exercises may prevent SSS.
Choudhary, B.S., Sapur, S. and Deb. P.S., 2000. Forward head posture is the cause of ‘straight spine syndrome’ in many professionals. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 4(3), 122-124.

POSTURE:
Minimization of altered postural/structural loading of the human frame may take longer than resolution, or maximal reduction, of offensive symptoms. By itself, a patient's perception of pain is not a valid indicator of health. Postural chiropractic adjustments, active exercises and stretches, resting spinal blocking procedures, extension traction and ergonomic education are deemed necessary for maximal spinal rehabilitation.
Troyanovich, S.J., Harrison, D.E. and Harrison, D.D., 1998. Structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture: rationale for treatment beyond the resolution of symptoms. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 21 (1), 37-50.

PREGNANCY:
This study reviewed previous research. It showed chiropractic care is associated with improved outcomes in pregnancy-related low back pain.
Stuber, K.J. and Smith, D.L., 2008. Chiropractic treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain: a systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 31 (6), 447-454.

SHOULDER:
There is fair evidence (B) for the treatment of a variety of common rotator cuff disorders, shoulder disorders, adhesive capsulitis and soft tissue disorders using manipulative therapy to the shoulder, shoulder girdle, and/or the full kinetic chain combined with or without exercise and/or multimodal therapy.
Brantingham, J.W., Cassa, T.K., Bonnefin, D., Jensen, M., Globe, G., Hicks, M. And Korporaal, C., 2011. Manipulative therapy for shoulder pain and disorders: expansion of a systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 34 (5), 314-346.

SUPPORTIVE CARE:
Three groups were compared, receiving a) sham treatment, b) spinal manipulation over a month, c) spinal manipulation over a month plus ‘maintenance’ spinal care over the following nine months. Only the third group showed more improvement in pain and disability scores at the ten month follow up evaluation.
Senna, M.K. and Machaly, S.A., 2011. Does maintained spinal manipulation therapy for chronic non-specific low back pain result in better long term outcome? Spine, 36 (18), 1427-1437.