Waldorf Total Health Chiropractic & Physical Therapy sees many patients weekly in our busy Waldorf, MD chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature verifies that chiropractic is an effective way to treat herniated disc problems.
One particular study 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, reduced range of motion, and sensory problems bad enough to keep them off work.
During the course of the research period, the individuals were treated using one of two common chiropractic methods: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the patients who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.
Each individual was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Based on the extent of the disc herniation, therapy varied anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at a variety of stages to identify what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The authors reported that 80 percent of the participants obtained a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, 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 participants being able to return to their place of employment and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and you're near Waldorf Total Health Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in Waldorf, MD, 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.