A recent study published in BMJ Open examined the impact of chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) on the likelihood of tramadol prescriptions among adults with radicular low back pain (LBP). The study analyzed medical data from over 115 million U.S. patients, comparing those who received CSM with those receiving usual medical care.
Key findings revealed that patients who received chiropractic care were 68% less likely to be prescribed tramadol over a one-year follow-up period than those who did not receive chiropractic treatment. Specifically, only 1.3% of patients in the chiropractic group received a tramadol prescription versus 4% in the standard care group.
This is a significant insight for healthcare providers, as tramadol is a commonly prescribed opioid with potential risks of dependency and adverse effects. The reduced need for tramadol prescriptions among patients receiving chiropractic care suggests that spinal manipulation can effectively manage radicular LBP without resorting to opioid medications.
“Tramadol prescription was significantly lower in the CSM cohort compared with the usual medical care cohort, with an RR (95% CI) of 0.32 (0.18 to 0.57; p<0.0001).”
“The known efficacy of CSM in alleviating radicular LBP could provide patients with substantial pain relief, therefore obviating the need for pharmacological treatment.”
“Receiving initial CSM for radicular LBP could reduce the likelihood of tramadol prescription either via direct pain relief mechanisms or due to entry into a non-pharmacological care pathway.”
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