JAMA study seems very flawed...

[Guest guest]

I just read a summary of a study in JAMA re. back supports ..The study bascially concludes that back braces are of no use because those Walmart employees who wore them had just as many W/C claims as those who didn't...

I am no research and statistics whiz but the study seems totally flawed in that those who wore the braces more or less did so by choice (even though about half of the stores supposedly had a mandatory policy, it was not enforced.) You've got to have some sort of randomized process as to who is going to wear the belt and who isn't, otherwise only those people with problematic backs/prior injuries or more-physical jobs are going to wear them!!

What was troubling is that on NPR this morning the way it was spun was that it is conclusion come down from "on high" and a rheumatologist who co-authored the study apparently wrote an editorial of some sort was interviewed saying that the back pain and claims had much more to do with the patient's attitude than with physical or mechanical/structural issues.

This smells like mainstream medicine saying: If you have a problem that we can't figure out a good/easy answer for, then we will simply deny its existence or change the diagnosis.

J. , DC

Springbrook Chiropractic Clinic

Newberg, Oregon

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