A united statement of the global chiropractic research community against the pseudoscientific claim that chiropractic care boosts immunity

Pierre Côté*, André Bussières, J. David Cassidy, Jan Hartvigsen, Greg N. Kawchuk, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde, Silvano Mior, Michael Schneider, Bodil Arnbak (Member of author group), Johanne Brinch (Member of author group), Mikkel Brunsgaard Konner (Member of author group), Henrik Wulff Christensen (Member of author group), Stine Haugaard Clausen (Member of author group), Klaus Doktor (Member of author group), Jonathan Field (Member of author group), Steen Harsted (Member of author group), Roni Evans (Member of author group), Lisbeth Hartvigsen (Member of author group), Bue Hesby (Member of author group), Lise Hestbæk (Member of author group)Tue Secher Jensen (Member of author group), Melker Staffan Johansson (Member of author group), Alice Kongsted (Member of author group), Henrik Hein Lauridsen (Member of author group), Anne Mølgaard Nielsen (Member of author group), Corrie Myburgh (Member of author group), Casper Nim (Member of author group), Søren O'Neill (Member of author group), Cecilie Øverås (Member of author group), Erik Poulsen (Member of author group), Mette Jensen Stochkendahl (Member of author group), Lars Uhrenholt (Member of author group), James Young (Member of author group), Dorthe Schøler Ziegler (Member of author group), Rikke Krüger Jensen (Member of author group), Kristina Boe Dissing (Member of author group), and more than 140 signatories

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debateResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Background: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) posted reports claiming that chiropractic care can impact the immune system. These claims clash with recommendations from the World Health Organization and World Federation of Chiropractic. We discuss the scientific validity of the claims made in these ICA reports. Main body: We reviewed the two reports posted by the ICA on their website on March 20 and March 28, 2020. We explored the method used to develop the claim that chiropractic adjustments impact the immune system and discuss the scientific merit of that claim. We provide a response to the ICA reports and explain why this claim lacks scientific credibility and is dangerous to the public. More than 150 researchers from 11 countries reviewed and endorsed our response. Conclusion: In their reports, the ICA provided no valid clinical scientific evidence that chiropractic care can impact the immune system. We call on regulatory authorities and professional leaders to take robust political and regulatory action against those claiming that chiropractic adjustments have a clinical impact on the immune system.

Original languageEnglish
Article number21
JournalChiropractic & Manual Therapies
Volume28
Issue number1
Number of pages5
ISSN2045-709X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4. May 2020

Keywords

  • Chiropractic
  • Coronavirus
  • Immunity
  • Pseudoscience
  • Spinal manipulation

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