Sweeney Chiropractic sees many people weekly in our busy Nashville chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and distress they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the scientific literature verifies that chiropractic care is an effective way to treat herniated disc problems.
One particular research project involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The subjects documented that they were experiencing pain, limited range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
Over the course of the research period, the subjects were managed using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the low back.
Each man or woman was treated four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the remainder of the study. Based on the extent of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being conducted at various stages to identify what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The researchers found that 80 percent of the subjects enjoyed a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other symptoms, such as numbness. Furthermore, 77 percent of these people also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study subjects being able to return to their place of work and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Sweeney Chiropractic in Nashville, contact our office today to see what chiropractic can do for you!
Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.
Dr. Jim Sweeney & Dr. Jon Sweeney, your Nashville Chiropractors and Palmer College of Chiropractic West graduates, provide quality chiropractic care to patients in Nashville, TN. If you suffer from back pain, neck pain, headache, sciatica or have been in an auto collision, Sweeney Chiropractic can get you back on the road to health.
