This study attempted to observe the effects of chiropractic manual adjustment on the common female problem of pelvic pain. The conclusion was “positive short term effects”.

Chiropractic Study looks at pelvic pain in women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of chiropractic care for women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) as a first step in designing a randomized clinical trial. DESIGN: Prospective single-group intervention study.

SETTING: Chiropractic Research Center.

SUBJECTS: Nineteen volunteer female subjects meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for chiropractic treatment of chronic pelvic pain.

INTERVENTIONS: Chiropractic treatment consisting of flexion/distraction and trigger point techniques administered by faculty clinician over a period of 6 wk.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain Disability Index (PDI) was the primary measure; secondary outcome measures were Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS), RAND-36 Health Survey and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). All were administered at baseline and at 6 wk.

RESULTS: Eighteen subjects completed the study, with an attrition rate of 5%. The mean improvement in the PDI score was 13.0 points (p = .001); in the VAS it was 4.0 cm (p = .001); and in the BDI it was 6.1 points (p < .001). All eight subscales of the RAND-36 Health Survey increased post-intervention, with the largest differences in role function limitations because of physical problems (45.8%), emotional problems (44.4%) and pain (40.6%).

CONCLUSION: The chiropractic treatment used in this study had positive short-term effects. These results will be used to design a randomized clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of chiropractic care in the treatment of CPP.

Reference:

Hawk C, Long C, Azad A. Chiropractic care for women with chronic pelvic pain: a prospective single-group intervention study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997 Feb;20(2):73-9. (Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, Iowa 52803, USA.)