A January 2012 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that conservative care consisting of either spinal manipulation or home exercise to be more effective than over the counter and prescription medication for relieving both acute and subacute neck pain. The study involved 272 adults with nonspecific (muscle-ligament-joint) neck pain of 2-12 weeks duration, excluding more serious pathologies such as discs, fractures, and instabilities.
Subjects were randomized into three groups for 12 weeks: spinal manipulation (SMT), home exercise and medication. Self report outcomes (pain, function) were measured at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks during the trial period, and at 6 and 12 months follow up. Results were as follows:
12 week comparisions of pain reduction
Improvement >50% 75% 100%
SMT Group 82 % 57 % 32 %
Exercise Group 77 % 48 % 30 %
Medication Group 69 % 33 % 13 %
At long term follow up, 75 % at 6 months, and 81 % at 12 months of SMT group reported at least a 50 % reduction of pain. 71 % at 6 months and 69 % of 12 months of exercise groups reported at least a 50 % reduction of pain. 59 % of 6 month and 69 % at 12 month of the medication group had a pain reduction of at least 50 %.
What can be concluded is that both the SMT and exercise groups had similar short and long term outcomes, more favorable than the medication group. This further reinforces past research which has shown active therapies for neck and back pain (exercise and manipulation) to be the most effective treatment for these common and reoccurring conditions.
