A recent study conducted by University Hospitals Connor Whole Health revealed that adults with newly diagnosed low back pain, with or without sciatica, who received spinal manipulative therapy from a chiropractor were less likely to develop opioid use disorder compared to those prescribed ibuprofen.
The study, published in Health Science Reports, analyzed data from over 49,000 patients from 2015 to 2025. The results showed that patients who received spinal manipulative therapy had an 80% lower risk of opioid use disorder compared to those prescribed ibuprofen.
Lead author of the study, Robert Trager, DC, emphasized the importance of nonpharmacological treatments for low back pain amidst the opioid crisis. The study focused on opioid-naive adults aged 18 and older with a new episode of low back pain, excluding those with prior opioid use disorder or serious pathologies.
The findings support the use of spinal manipulative therapy as a first-line treatment for low back pain, in line with recommendations from organizations like the American College of Physicians and the US Centers for Disease Control.
Additional research is needed to further explore the benefits of chiropractic care in reducing opioid use disorder and providing alternative pain management solutions.
More information:
Robert J. Trager et al, Association Between Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Low Back Pain With or Without Sciatica and Opioid Use Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Health Science Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.71267
