New Research Places Chiropractic as First Option for Back Pain Relief, Surgery Avoidance

The results of a new study documents that chiropractic care should be the first option for back pain relief and surgical avoidance. The study entitled, “Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery after Occupational Back Injury: Results from a Prospective Study of Workers in Washington State,” observed reduced odds of surgery for those under age 35, women, Hispanics and those whose first provider was a chiropractor.

The objective of the study was to identify early predictors of lumbar spine surgery within 3 years after occupational back injury.

Back injuries are the most prevalent occupational injury in the United States. Few prospective studies have examined early predictors of spine surgery after work-related back injury.

The study concluded that approximately 42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery, in contrast to only 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor.