A study in The Spine Journal showed that chiropractic care was effective in helping patients with acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion. The patients were divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments five days per week and the second group received fake chiropractic care. Those who got the real chiropractic care improved significantly with 55% free of radiating pain vs. 20% of those in the fake group. Additionally, 28% of those who received real chiropractic were free of local pain, versus only 6% of those who got the simulated manipulation. Also, the group with the real care reported using less medications to help with the pain