Spinal Adjustments Dropped From 90% to 75% in Just 20 Years
In this brief commentary, Jeff Langmaid reviews a study comparing chiropractic practice patterns in 2003 and 2023. He notes that the proportion of chiropractors selecting spinal adjustments as a treatment for routine low back pain fell from roughly 90% to 75%, a 14‑percentage‑point decline. While adjustments remain the most common adjunctive intervention, the drop signals a broader shift toward a more varied toolbox of therapeutic options. Langmaid emphasizes the importance of assessing segmental lumbar motion in patients, suggesting many cases likely involve restricted segmental motion, and urges clinicians to incorporate motion checks into their evaluation. He does not pass judgment on whether the diversification of treatments is better or worse, but highlights it as the key finding of the study.
