The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Pros and cons of chiropractic for neck pain

    Researchers from VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam report the experience of 529 patients representing 4891 treatment sessions.

    First, the details.

    • 79 chiropractors participated.
    • Patients with neck pain of any duration were eligible for the study.
    • Data were collected over 12 months of treatment.

    And, the results.

    • Most patients had chronic, recurrent complaints — mild to moderate disability of the neck, and a mild amount.
    • Two-thirds sought previous care in the preceding 6 months.
    • Side effects after any of the first 3 treatments were reported by 56% — 13% were severe in intensity.
    • The most common adverse events affected the musculoskeletal system or were pain related.
    • Tiredness, dizziness, nausea, or ringing in the ears were uncommon
    • 5 patients (1%) reported being much worse at 12 months.
    • Of the patients who returned for a fourth visit, approximately half reported to be recovered, whereas approximately two-thirds were recovered at 3 and 12 months.

    The bottom line?
    The author’s concluded, “Adverse events may be common, but are rarely severe in intensity. Most of the patients report recovery, particularly in the long term.”

    Overall, they continue, “The benefits of chiropractic care for neck pain seem to outweigh the potential risks.”

    11/21/07 21:57 JR

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