SCU Study Finds Chiropractic Care Safer for Older Adults with Neck Pain

A new study led by Dr. James Whedon from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) has found that chiropractic care may be a safer option than traditional medical care for older adults with new-onset neck pain.

The research, published this year and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), analyzed Medicare claims data from 291,604 beneficiaries aged 65–99 who experienced a new episode of neck pain in 2019. Patients were grouped into three treatment approaches:

• Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT)
• Primary Medical Care with Prescription Drug Therapy
• Primary Medical Care Only (without chiropractic or prescription drugs)

Key Findings

• Patients who received chiropractic care had a 20% lower rate of adverse outcomes compared to those receiving prescription drug therapy.
• Chiropractic care was also linked to a 14% lower rate of complications than primary medical care without drugs.
• By contrast, patients treated with prescription drugs had a 6% higher risk of adverse events compared to primary medical care only.

The study specifically tracked outcomes such as adverse drug events, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and other complications over a 24-month period.

“These results clearly indicate that for Medicare beneficiaries with new-onset neck pain, chiropractic care offers a significantly lower risk of adverse events compared to primary medical care with prescription drugs,” said Dr. Whedon, lead researcher. “This is particularly important as older adults are often more vulnerable to the side effects of medications.”

Why It Matters

Neck pain is common among older adults, and national clinical practice guidelines already recommend non-drug treatments as a first-line approach. The findings from this NIH-funded SCU study provide large-scale evidence that chiropractic care aligns with those guidelines and can reduce risks tied to prescription drug use.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting non-pharmacological approaches such as chiropractic care, exercise, and patient education in managing musculoskeletal conditions. It also highlights SCU’s role in advancing safe, evidence-based alternatives to medication for pain management.

Learn More

Read the published study on PubMed.
Visit the SCU Clinical and Health Research webpage to learn more about current or completed research.