Chiropractic - Is it Worth the Taxpayer’s Expense as an NHS Service?

Ikenna Idika Ogbu; Chandrasekaran Kaliaperumal

doi:10.5530/bems.10.2.8

Authors

Ikenna Idika Ogbu Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of North Midlands, UNITED KINGDOM
Chandrasekaran Kaliaperumal Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Consultant Neurosurgeon & Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UNITED KINGDOM

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5530/bems.10.2.8

Keywords:

Chiropractic, Spinal manipulation, NHS, Physical therapy, Low back pain

Abstract

Chiropractic remains a service provided outside the NHS in the United Kingdom and the argument for inclusion has been ongoing since the 90’s. There are significant patient-reported benefits from chiropractic backed by evidence in specific use-cases as cervicogenic headaches and there are significant potential cost-savings from the inclusion of chiropractic as an NHS service. The evidence, however, does not particularly favour the use case of chiropractic, especially in the context of Low Back Pain (LBP) and the benefits of chiropractic are unclear. Considering the potential cost-savings for the NHS and the society, there should be consideration for its inclusion. However, the evidence will need to be clearer to argue for inclusion of chiropractic in the NHS spectrum of services, especially for spinal services.