Some aspects of chiropractic maintenance care are controversial.

Two researchers from the University of Southern Denmark in Forskerparken searched the literature for answers.

The objective was to find answers to the following questions.

• What is the exact definition of maintenance care?
• What are its indications for use?
• How is it practiced?
• Do chiropractors support the concept of maintenance care, and how well accepted is it by patients?
• How frequently is maintenance care used?
• What factors are associated with its use?
• Is maintenance care a clinically valid method of approach?
• And is it cost-effective for the patient?

And, the results.

• 13 studies were found, in which maintenance care was investigated.
• There was “obvious bias in many of these,” the lack of exhaustive information.
• The diversity of findings made it impossible to answer any of the questions.

The bottom line?
Goodness!

The authors concluded that in 2008, “Our conclusion is identical to that of a similar review published in 1996, namely that maintenance care is not well researched.”

As a starting point, an earlier survey found that in addition to periodic visits for joint manipulation, a range of activities such as exercise, nutrition, relaxation, physical therapy, and manipulation are likely to be recommended.

5/10/08 22:19 JR