For Acute Low Back Problems:

"For patients with acute low-back symptoms without radiculopathy, the evidence suggests spinal manipulation is effective in reducing pain and perhaps speeding recovery within the first month of symptoms"

Clinical Practice Guidelines, AHCPR (1994)

For Long Term Low Back Problems:

"There is strong evidence that manipulation is more effective than a placebo treatment for chronic low back pain or than usual care by the general practitioner, bed rest,analgesics and massage."

Spine, Van Tulder and Bouter et al. (1997)

For the Elderly:

" (Elderly) chiropractic users were less likely to be hospitalized, less likely to have used a nursing home, more likely to report a better health status, more likely to exercise vigorously, and more likely to be mobile in the community. In addition, they were lesss likely to use prescription drugs"

Topics in Clinical Chiropractic, Coulter et al. (1996)

For Headaches:

"Cervical manipulation was associated with significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache"

FCER Evidence report (2001)