A SCIENTIFIC LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Thomas J. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Louisville School of Medicine
ON-LINE READING FOR JANUARY 10, 2006
CHIROPRACTIC, OSTEOPATHY, MASSAGE,
ANTI-VACCINATION MOVEMENT
* = required reading for students in the course
Chiropractic - overview
* National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2005) “About Chiropractic and Its Use in Treating Low-Back Pain”
* Meeker, W.C. and Haldeman, S. (2002) “Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative Medicine” Ann. Intern. Med. 136, 216-227 [abstract with link to free pdf file]
Homola, S. (2001) “Chiropractic: Does the Bad Outweigh the Good?”
Kaptchuk, T.J. and Eisenberg, D.M. (1998) “Chiropractic: Origins, Controversies, and Contributions” Arch. Intern. Med. 158, 2215-2224 [abstract]
Ernst, E. and Assendelft, W.J.J. (1998) "Chiropractic for Low Back Pain." [editorial] BMJ 317, 160
Homola, S. (1999) “What a Rational Chiropractor Can Do for You”
Barrett, S. (2000) "Tips on Choosing a Chiropractor"
Barrett, S. (2003) “Glossary of Chiropractic Terms”
Barrett, S. (2004) Chiropractic Techniques [links to promotional sites describing various techniques]
Mainous, A.G., Gill, J.M., Zoller, J.S., Wolman, M.G. (2000) “Fragmentation of Patient Care Between Chiropractors and Family Physicians” Arch. Fam. Med. 9, 446-450
Cooper, R.A. and McKee, H.J. (2003) “Chiropractic in the United States: Trends and Issues” Milbank Quart. 81, 107-138 [abstract]
Coulter, I.D., Hurwitz, E.L., Adams, A.H., Benovese, B.J., Hays, R., Shekelle, P.G. (2002) “Patients Using Chiropractors in North America: Who Are They, and Why Are They in Chiropractic Care?” Spine 27, 291-298 [abstract]
Chiropractic - critiques (see also “risks” below)
Chirobase (“A Skeptical Guide to Chiropractic History, Theories, and Current Practices”)
ChiroLinks (“Chiropractic Resources, Articles and Links”)
Jarvis, W.T. (2000) “Chiropractic: A Skeptical View”
Nelson, C.F. et al. (2005) “Chiropractic as Spine Care: a Model for the Profession” Chiropractic & Osteopathy 13, 9
Benedetti, P. (2001) “Spin Doctors II: Manipulating Children” Investigative report on pediatric chiropractic.
Nelson, C.F. (1999) “Spinal Manipulation and Chiropractic: Views of a Reformist Chiropractor.” American Council on Science and Health Health Issues, April 1
Anonymous “An Inside View of a Chiropractic Office”
Barrett, S. (2001) “Chiropractic’s Elusive ‘Subluxation’”
Barrett, S. (2003) “The Selling of the Spine”
Barrett, S. (2005) “Chiropractors and Immunization”
Lattanze, W. (1999) “A Warning for Pre-Chiropractic Students”
Lee, A.C.C., Li, D.H., and Kemper, K.J. (2000) “Chiropractic Care for Children” Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 154, 401-407 [abstract]
Campbell, J.B., Busse, J.W. and Injeyan, H.S. (2000) “Chiropractors and Vaccinations: A Historical Perspective” Pediatrics 105(4), e43
Crelin, E.S. (1973) "A Scientific Test of the Chiropractic Theory" American Scientist 61, 574-580 [measures how much displacement of vertebrae must occur before spinal nerves are impinged or encroached upon]
Chiropractic - research on back pain (reviews only)
Assendelft, W.J.J., Morton, S.C., Yu, E.I. et al. (2003) “Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Low Back Pain. A Meta-Analysis of Effectiveness Related to Other Therapies” Ann. Intern. Med. 138, 871-881 [abstract with link to free pdf file]
Cherkin, D.C., Sherman, K.J., Deyo, R.A. and Shekelle, P.G. (2003) “A Review of the Evidence for the Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost of Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, and Spinal Manipulation for Back Pain” Ann. Intern. Med. 138, 898-906 [abstract with link to free pdf file]
Chiropractic - research on other conditions
Ernst, E. (2000) “Does Spinal Manipulation Have Specific Treatment Effects?” Family Practice 17, 554-556
Bronfort, G. et al. (2004) “Non-invasive Physical Treatments for Chronic/recurrent Headache” Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. [abstract]
Balon, J.W. and Mior, S.A. (2004) “Chiropractic Care in Asthma and Allergy” Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 93(Suppl 1), S55-60 [abstract]
Chiropractic - risks
Barrett, S. (2004) “Chiropractic’s Dirty Secret: Neck Manipulation and Stroke”
Ernst, E. (2001) “Prospective Investigations into the Safety of Spinal Manipulation” J. Pain Symptom Manage. 21, 238-242 [abstract]
Rothwell, D.M., Bondy, S.J., and Williams, J.I. (2001) “Chiropractic Manipulation and Stroke: A Population-Based Case-Control Study” Stroke 32, 1054-1060
Hurwitz, E.L. et al. (2005) “Frequency and Clinical Predictors of Adverse Reactions to Chiropractic Care in the UCLA Neck Pain Study” Spine 13, 1477-1484 [abstract]
Chiropractic - promotional
Web sites for chiropractic organizations:
• American Chiropractic Association
• International Chiropractors Association
• Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
• International Chiropractic Pediatric Association
• National Association for Chiropractic Medicine [reform organization that renounces subluxations]
Chiropractic promotional sites:
• An “upper cervical specialist” (claims to be helpful for numerous conditions)
• “Introducing Subluxation Station" Describes a device that allegedly can measure nerve interference.
• Cards and pamphlets for e-mailing to patients
• An animation showing association of vertebrae with diseases
• “Patient Lecture Presentation”
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Osteopathy
Barrett, S. (2003) “Dubious Aspects of Osteopathy”
Barrett, S. (2005) “Misleading Claims by the American Osteopathic Association”
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Andersson, G.B.J., Lucente, T., Davis, A.M., Kappler, R.E., Lipton, J.A. and Leurgans, S. (1999) “A Comparison of Osteopathic Spinal Manipulation with Standard Care for Patients with Low Back Pain” New Engl. J. Med. 341, 1426-1431 [abstract with link to full text (full text requires registration)]
Johnson, S.M. and Kurtz, M.E. (2001) “Diminished Use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Its Impact on the Uniqueness of the Osteopathic Profession” Acad. Med. 76, 821-828 [abstract]
Cummings, M. and Dobbs, K.J. (2005) “The Irony of Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care” Acad. Med. 80, 702-705 [abstract]
Massage
* American Medical Massage Association (2005) “Categories and Definitions of Fringe Massage Therapy - AMMA Position Statement”
Barrett, S. (2002) “Massage Therapy: Riddled with Quackery”
Cherkin, D., Eisenberg, D., Sherman, K.J. et al. (2001) “Randomized Trial Comparing Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture, Therapeutic Massage, and Self-care Education for Chronic Low Back Pain” Arch. Intern. Med. 161, 1081-1088 [abstract]
Cherkin, D.C., Sherman, K.J., Deyo, R.A. an Shekelle, P.G. (2003) “A Review of the Evidence for the Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost of Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, and Spinal Manipulation for Back Pain” Ann. Intern. Med. 138, 898-906 [abstract with link to free pdf file]
Corbin, L. (2005) “Safety and Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Patients with Cancer” Cancer Control 12, 158-163 [pdf file]
Hanley, J., Stirling, P. and Brown, C. (2003) “Randomised Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Massage in the Management of Stress” Br. J. Gen. Pract. 53, 20-25 [abstract]
Cassileth, B.R. and Vickers, A.J. (2004) “Massage Therapy for Symptom Control: Outcome Study at a Major Cancer Center” J. Pain Symptom Manage. 28, 244-249 [abstract]
Shoemaker, J.K., Tiidus, P.M., and Mader, R. (1997) “Failure of Manual Massage to Alter Limb Blood Flow: Measures by Doppler Ultrasound” Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 29, 610-614 [abstract]
Hinds, T. et al. (2004) “Effects of Massage on Limb and Skin Blood Flow after Quadriceps Exercise” Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 36, 1308-1313 [abstract]
Massage - promotional
Antivaccination Movement
* Gurnon, E. (2003) “Mistaking the Enemy” North Coast Journal, Aug. 21 (“With safety concerns about vaccines on the rise, more and more parents are refusing to immunize their children. Have they forgotten about diphtheria?”)
“MMR Vaccination and Autism” Bandolier Extra, April 2005 [pdf file]
Hoyt, W.J. (2004) “Anti-Vaccination Fever” Skeptical Inquirer, Jan.-Feb., 21-25
Friedlander, E. “The Anti-Immunization Activists: A Pattern of Deception”
Parker, S.K. et al. (2004) “Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Critical Review of Published Original Data” Pedatrics 114, 793-804
Smeeth, L. et al. (2004) “MMR Vaccination and Pervasive Developmental Disorders: a Case-Control Study” Lancet 364, 963-969 [abstract]
Hviid, A. et al. (2005) “Childhood Vaccination and Nontargeted Infectious Disease Hospitalization” JAMA 294, 699-705 [abstract]