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Chiropractic Pain Management

An Integrative Approach

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Integrative Pain Medicine

Part of the book series: Contemporary Pain Medicine ((CPM))

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Summary

Chiropractic management of spinal pain is increasingly utilized as an alternative or complement to pharmaceutical treatment. This chapter presents the role of chiropractic management, particularly spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of spinal pain. The chapter presents an overview of the the historical roots of chiropractic education and practice, and contrasts them with contemporary education, practice, and the evolution of modern chiropractic research. The role of joint dysfunction as a pain generator is reviewed. The mechanisms underlying spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) are presented in the context of biomechanical and neurophysiological models as well as mind–body integration. The clinical setting for the delivery of chiropractic care in pain management is outlined. Clinical indications and contraindications for SMT are presented. The effectiveness and safety of SMT are reviewed. Research horizons are suggested which target questions ranging from the basic sciences, such as the biological mechanisms underlying joint dysfunction and SMT, to clinical sciences and the possible role of SMT in rehabilitation and post-operative care.

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  1. Norman W. Kettner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Spaulding, Massachusetts

    Joseph F. Audette MA, MD

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

    Allison Bailey MD

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Kettner, N.W. (2008). Chiropractic Pain Management. In: Audette, J.F., Bailey, A. (eds) Integrative Pain Medicine. Contemporary Pain Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-344-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-344-8_16

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

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