Study finds manipulation is more effective than Voltaren (diclofenac) for acute lower back pain.

This may come as no surprise to many chiropractors, nor the well educated chiropractic patient, but the literature support for manipulation in the treatment of lower back pain is actually quite sparse. However, the same could be said about almost any other interventions available. In a study just published in the online medical journal, SPINE, researchers found; “In a subgroup of patients with acute nonspecific LBP [lower back pain] spinal manipulation was significantly better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac and clinically superior to placebo.” Unfortunately acute non specific lower back pain can encompass many different conditions from lumbar disc protrusion to lumbar facet joint strain. Some causes of low back pain do not originate from the spine, and some spine injuries are potentially too dangerous to treat with manipulation so it is important to have your low back pain assessed before any trial of treatment. http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2013/04010/Spinal_High_Velocity_Low_Amplitude_Manipulation_in.3.aspx