Madam, - Contrary to the claims of Attracta Farrell (March 19th), the UK BEAM trial reported in the British Medical Journal did not demonstrate chiropractic manipulation to be efficacious for back pain. The BEAM trial used a hybrid manual therapy containing elements of chiropracty along with elements of osteopathy and mainstream physiotherapy (indeed, in one sense, this was the whole point of the trial). Therefore, benefits to patients resulting from the treatment could be due to any one of the three.
The study did not separate the treatments, meaning that it is impossible to single one of them out as being responsible for patient outcomes in the way done by Ms Farrell (spokesperson for the Chiropractic Association of Ireland). To do so is plainly illogical.
Given the extant research literature on the matter (as well as the basic tenets of human anatomy), there is every reason to assume that the mainstream physiotherapy element was responsible for the improvement recorded in the BEAM trial. This would be consistent with the overall research picture on chiropracty, which fails conclusively to show any exclusive benefit beyond mere massage. - Yours, etc,
Dr BRIAN HUGHES, Department of Psychology, NUI Galway.