Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes sees many people weekly in our busy State College, PA chiropractic office who are searching for relief from the pain and distress they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the scientific literature confirms that chiropractic is a great 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 patients reported that they were experiencing pain, reduced range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
During the course of the research study, the participants were managed using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the men and women who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.
Each man or woman was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the remainder of the study. Depending on the seriousness of the disc herniation, treatment ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at various stages to identify what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The investigators reported that 80 percent of the participants experienced a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Additionally, 77 percent of these individuals 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 researchers to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes in State College, PA, 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.
Dr. Matt Reyes was born and raised in Apalachin, a small town in Upstate New York. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Fitness Development from the State University at New York College at Cortland. He then fulfilled his ambition to become a Doctor of Chiropractic when he graduated from New York Chiropractic College in 2013.
