This scoping review pulled together 328 studies to build a global picture of who uses chiropractic care, why they seek it, and what that care typically involves, covering data from 1980 to 2015.
What was studied?
The review examined chiropractic utilisation rates over a 35-year period, patient demographics, the most common reasons for visits, and the specific treatments chiropractors provided, drawing on 328 studies worldwide.
What did they find?
Globally, a median of about 9.1% of people used chiropractic services within a 12-month period, a figure that stayed fairly stable from 1980 to 2015. Low back pain was the most common reason for visits, and manipulation was used around 79% of the time.
Why it matters
This gives a clear picture of who typically seeks chiropractic care and why, mostly working-age adults with back, neck or limb pain. It also confirms manipulation is usually combined with other therapies, not used alone.
Why we included it
It shows that combining manipulation with soft-tissue therapy and education is standard practice globally, not an unusual approach, reinforcing the value of treating multiple techniques as a package rather than in isolation.
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What was studied?
The review examined chiropractic utilisation rates over a 35-year period, patient demographics, the most common reasons for visits, and the specific treatments chiropractors provided, drawing on 328 studies worldwide.
What did they find?
Globally, a median of about 9.1% of people used chiropractic services within a 12-month period, a figure that stayed fairly stable from 1980 to 2015. Low back pain was the most common reason for visits, and manipulation was used around 79% of the time.
Why it matters
This gives a clear picture of who typically seeks chiropractic care and why, mostly working-age adults with back, neck or limb pain. It also confirms manipulation is usually combined with other therapies, not used alone.
Why we included it
It shows that combining manipulation with soft-tissue therapy and education is standard practice globally, not an unusual approach, reinforcing the value of treating multiple techniques as a package rather than in isolation.