Roger Wilhelm, D.C.

Chiropractic care and spinal manipulation for low back pain has a long and rich history. The purpose of this publication is to look back at some of the highlights and to add new evidence (2024). In 1958, a study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, titled (1): Manipulation in Back Pain The authors [..]

The primary reason (93%) patients go to chiropractors is for the management of spinal pain (1). Specifically, 63% go to chiropractors for low back pain, and 30% due so for neck pain. The effectiveness of chiropractic care for spinal pain is well-documented. Chiropractic care (spinal manipulation) is routinely included in spine pain clinical practice guidelines [..]

A recent large and comprehensive review of the chiropractic profession establishes that 93% of patients initially go to chiropractors for spine pain complaints (1). The same review documents that chiropractic care is exceptionally effective and safe for these spine pain patients. As a consequence of the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic care for spine pain [..]

Background According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC), the top ten causes of yearly death are (1): Number of deaths for leading causes of death Heart disease: 695,547 Cancer: 605,213 COVID-19: 416,893 Accidents (unintentional injuries): 224,935 Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,890 Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 142,342 Alzheimer’s disease: 119,399 Diabetes: [..]

“Manipulation” and “Chiropractic” are not Synonyms Background Joint Manipulation Joint manipulation is the applying of a force to a joint that helps that joint move better. It is classically associated with an audible sound. All people, trained and untrained, are capable of manipulating joints and eliciting an audible sound. Manipulation is a lay term. It is often [..]

Chan Gunn, MD, is a Clinical Professor at the Multidisciplinary Pain Center at the University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Gunn describes three categories of pain, which are quite useful for the following discussion (1). These three categories are: 1)Nociception Pain In this category of pain, there is no tissue damage, and therefore [..]

All perceptions (e.g., hot, cold, loud, bright, smelly, hard, soft, sour, sweet, pain, etc.) are cortical, meaning perceived in the brain. All pain is perceived in the brain (1). Pain perception is brought to the brain by nerves. Structures that do not have a nerve supply (like articular hyaline cartilage, fingernail) cannot send the pain [..]

The medical profession primarily views pain as a consequence of an inflammatory problem (1, 2, 3, 4). With the realization that inflammation, for the most part, is a chemical event, focus on the inflammatory chemistry of pain has become a priority of drug companies and for the physicians that prescribe their products. Often these efforts target inflammatory [..]

People become healthcare providers because they are interested, often passionately, about helping others with their health. Most healthcare providers are horrified at the thought that anything they did or failed to do could end up harming a patient. Yet, every type of health care is associated with some risks of potential problems. These problems can [..]

Considerations for Costs, Outcomes, Surgery, Injections, and Imaging Introduction Healthcare providers of various disciplines tend to believe in and offer patients the intervention of their specialty: Medical doctors tend to prescribe medicines. Surgeons tend to offer surgery. Acupuncturists tend to offer needles. Massage therapists tend to offer massage. Physical therapists tend to offer physical therapy. [..]