Freehold NJ Chiropractor Shares Spinal Manipulation Proves Equally Beneficial as Surgery in Sciatica and Low Back Pain Treatment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Freehold, New Jersey, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) August 15, 2011 -- In a recent study, “Manipulation or Microdiskectomy for Sciatica?
A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study,” (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics,
October 2010, Vol. 33 Iss. 8, p: 576-584), researchers concluded that spinal manipulation was just as
effective as microdiskectomy for patients struggling with sciatica secondary to lumbar disk herniation
(LDH). The patient population studied included people experiencing chronic sciatica (symptoms greater

than six months) that had failed traditional, medical management. Overall, 60 percent of patients who
received spinal manipulation benefited to the same degree as those who underwent surgery.
“To our knowledge, this is the first, randomized trial that directly compared spinal manipulation, which in
this study was delivered by a doctor of chiropractic, and back surgery, two popular treatment choices for
this prevalent health condition,” says Dr. Gordon McMorland, who co-authored the paper with
neurosurgeons Steve Casha, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Stephan J. du Plessis, MD, and R. John Hubert, MD,

PhD, FRCSC, FACS. “Sciatica is a serious spinal condition that causes pain, numbness, or weakness in
one or both legs. Many times when symptoms become debilitating and without further help, surgery is
prescribed to alleviate discomfort. But surgery is not without financial and physical drawbacks.”
According to the study, “Outpatient Lumbar Microdiskectomy: A Prospective Study in 122 Patients”, more
than 200,000 microdiskectomies are performed annually in the United States, at a direct cost of $5 billion,
or $25,000 per procedure. In this year-long study, consenting participants were chosen randomly to

receive either an average of 21 chiropractic sessions over a year or a single microdiskectomy, both with
the additional integration of six supervised active rehabilitation sessions and a patient education program.
If cost is assumed at $100 per chiropractic visit, there is a direct, total savings of $22,900 per
manipulation patient. System-wide, this could save $2.75 billion dollars annually.
“After a year, no significant complications were seen in either treatment group, and the 60 percent
patients who benefitted from spinal manipulation improved to the same degree as their surgical

counterparts,” says Dr. McMorland, who also points out that, “The 40 percent of patients who were not
helped by manipulation did receive subsequent surgical intervention. These patients benefitted to the
same degree as those that underwent surgery initially, suggesting there was no detrimental effect caused
by delaying their surgical treatment.”
“Our research supports spinal manipulation performed by a doctor of chiropractic is a valuable and safe
treatment option for those experiencing symptomatic LDH, failing traditional medical management. These
individuals should consider spinal manipulation as a primary treatment, followed by surgery if
unsuccessful.”

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