Research consistently shows that chiropractic care can be an effective treatment for lumbar spinal pain. One often-cited study compared acupuncture, medication, and spinal manipulation for spinal pain syndromes. The results were clear — only spinal manipulation produced significant improvement. Another report found that 73% of patients who sought help from both a rheumatologist and an alternative provider reported chiropractic care as beneficial. Based on existing evidence, chiropractic care has long been recognized as a successful approach for lower back pain.

Until recently, however, no study had specifically examined chiropractic’s effectiveness for lumbar back pain in patients with osteoarthritis. A new study set out to do just that by comparing chiropractic care to moist heat therapy — a commonly recommended self-management tool for arthritis symptoms.

Researchers recruited 252 patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. Participants were excluded if they were already receiving chiropractic care, physical therapy, or anti-inflammatory medications.

The patients were divided into two groups:

• Chiropractic Group: Received 20 chiropractic treatments plus 15 minutes of moist heat.

• Control Group: Received moist heat only.

Patients were evaluated at weeks 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 for pain levels, range of motion, and ability to perform daily activities.

Key Findings

• Chiropractic care was significantly more effective in reducing pain than moist heat alone.

• Both right and left lateral flexion, average flexion, and average extension improved more in the chiropractic group.

• Chiropractic care produced a greater and faster increase in range of motion compared to heat alone.

• Patients receiving chiropractic treatment reported significant improvements in daily activities, while moist heat alone did not improve activities of daily living.

Study Conclusion

The authors reported:

“There are no studies in the literature that evaluate the effectiveness of chiropractic care in the treatment of OA. We found that chiropractic care was significantly better than moist heat alone for the treatment of OA. Although moist heat did improve low back pain, there is a more rapid and greater decline in pain under the treatment condition than with moist heat alone. The chiropractic treatment group also showed a more rapid and greater increase in range and flexion scores. With the exception of standing, sleeping, and sexual activity, chiropractic treatment participants reported a statistically significant improvement in their ADL.”

What This Means for You

Chiropractic care can offer meaningful relief for osteoarthritic back pain — improving mobility, reducing discomfort, and helping patients stay active without relying solely on medication or invasive procedures. If you are experiencing chronic low back pain due to osteoarthritis, chiropractic treatment may be a safe and effective option to support better daily function and long-term mobility.