ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In October, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is sponsoring National Chiropractic Month, a nationwide observance dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of chiropractic care. This year's activities focus on chiropractic's effectiveness in treating headaches.

Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. With the growing interest in health and wellness nowadays, many people seek alternatives to popping a pill for their headache pain.

"Many patients who suffer from headaches have found conservative, drug-free chiropractic treatment to be a safe and effective alternative to the use of medication, and scientific research supports this conclusion," says ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC, adding, "It's important that people have options when it comes to health care."

Several studies related to spinal manipulative therapy and neck pain, including headaches, have shown positive results for chiropractic. For example, a report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, N.C., found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. Further, the chiropractic treatment approach had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief than many commonly prescribed medications.

Additionally, in 2004, researchers at Northwestern Health Sciences University completed a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of treatments used in 22 studies with a total of 2,628 patients who suffered from headaches. They concluded that physical treatments, such as spinal manipulation, are safe care options for patients with chronic or recurrent headaches.

Also significant, patients who receive care for headaches report high levels of satisfaction with chiropractic, noting that their chiropractic physician recommended therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as provided nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling--all of which are important components in the management of chronic headache pain.

The ACA, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest chiropractic organization in the country. It provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, funds research into chiropractic and other health issues, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession. The ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

SOURCE American Chiropractic Association