THE RELATIVE IMPACT OF CHIROPRACTIC VS MEDICAL-MANAGEMENT OF LOW-BACK-PAIN ON HEALTH-STATUS IN A MULTISPECIALTY GROUP-PRACTICE

Purpose: The objective of the study was to compare chiropractic manage ment and medical management of low back pain of musculoskeletal etiolo gy in a multispecialty group practice. Study Design: The design was a retrospective cohort study in which the subcohorts were defined by sou rce of low back pain care and identified before follow-up was complete . Data collection occurred at the end of the third month following the ir initial visits. One hundred and three chiropractic patients and 187 medical patients aged 16 or greater who had not been treated within t he preceding month of their initial visit participated. Main Findings: A greater proportion of chiropractic than medical patients perceived their treatment to be successful (RR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.29, 2.82), had 0 days with low back pain during the week preceding the evaluation (R R = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.00, 2.59), and had no functional impairment due t o low back pain after 3 months following their initial visit according to the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0. 81, 2.50). General health status was similar for both chiropractic and medical patients. Conclusions: Chiropractic care was at least as effe ctive as medical care in reducing low back pain and functional disabil ity due to low back pain. Chiropractic patients were more likely to pe rceive their treatment to be successful in reducing low back pain comp ared to medical patients.