Preliminary study of the effects of a placebo chiropractic treatment with sham adjustments.
OBJECTIVE
To identify aspects of the delivery of placebo chiropractic treatments by using sham adjustments that may cause a treatment effect and that may affect the success of blinding.


METHODS
Two-period crossover design in a chiropractic college research clinic.


METHODS
Eighteen volunteer staff, students, and faculty of the chiropractic college who reported low-back pain within the last 6 months.


METHODS
Flexion-distraction technique was used to perform chiropractic adjustments, and a hand-held instrument (Activator adjusting instrument) with the pressure gauge set on the 0 was used to perform sham adjustments. The treatment period was 2 weeks, with a total of 4 visits.


METHODS
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Global Well-Being Scale (GWBS).


RESULTS
Although VAS and GWBS scores improved with both treatments, a somewhat greater improvement occurred in most cases with the active treatment. Eight of 14 patients interviewed believed that the placebo had a treatment effect.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provided preliminary information that was useful in planning the protocol for a placebo chiropractic treatment in the randomized clinical trial for which it was designed.
Hawk
C
C
Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, Iowa 52803, USA.
Azad
A
A
Phongphua
C
C
Long
C R
CR
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010919:Placebos; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010919:Placebos