June 2024 Update

Study Finds Chiropractic Care Reduces Tramadol Prescriptions For Sciatica

A new study led by researchers at University Hospital Connor Whole Health found that adults who initially received chiropractic spinal manipulation for sciatica were significantly less likely to be prescribed tramadol, compared to those receiving usual medical care. Authors in a retroactive study published in BMJ Open, which aided in the more recent study, found that 1.3% of the chiropractic patients received a tramadol prescription over a one-year follow up compared to 4% of patients receiving usual medical care.

It was also reported that patients who received chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain are less likely to receive any opioid prescription for subsequent pain management.

This is just the latest of a growing amount of research that supports early chiropractic intervention for reducing both short and long term opioid use.