Neck pain affects about 70% of our population at some point in their life.  It isn’t a life-threatening problem, but it can lower quality of life. A research study was done to compare different treatments for neck pain.  

This trial was conducted to determine effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy (or spinal adjustment) vs. medication vs. home exercise with advice in improving neck pain. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three therapies.  The neck pain participants felt was measured at various intervals over the course of a year. 

What did they find?  Twelve weeks of chiropractic adjustments resulted in greater pain relief than medication, even up to one year after treatment!  Spinal adjustments and home exercise were similarly effective at reducing pain.  Chiropractors can actually give advice on home exercise programs in addition to adjustments, so chiropractic care is a great solution for neck pain! 

Bronfort et al. Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Jan 3;156