Do people seeking chiropractic care for back pain have different problems than people who see medical doctors?

Researchers are studying this question closely. One group surveyed over 1,000 patients from six different areas of the United States. They found that more than 70 percent of people seeing chiropractors had neck or back pain. These problems were not different from what a medical doctor would treat.

The health status of people in chiropractic care was different. In general, chiropractic patients had poorer physical and mental health. The reason for this is unknown. Perhaps chiropractors are more supportive and accepting of people with physical symptoms and depression or anxiety. This study found that users of chiropractic care were generally better educated and had a more holistic approach toward health in general.