Practice
The main focus of chiropractic practice is the relationship between the function of joints, muscles and the nervous system (neuromusculoskeletal disorders) and the effects of these disorders on health.

Research
There is now a substantial body of research evidence supporting the basis of chiropractic treatment and demonstrating its safety and effectiveness for acute (short term) and chronic (long term) back pain, neck pain, headache and other referred pain syndromes.

Back Pain: Research-based practice guidelines from government multidisciplinary expert panels in the US (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1994) and the United Kingdom (Clinical Standards Advisory Group, 1994) endorse chiropractic management by recommending spinal manipulation, over-the-counter pain medication, exercise and early return to activities as the most effective and cost-effective management for most patients with back pain. Rest beyond a few days, passive machine therapies, prescription drugs and steroid injections are not recommended because of ineffectiveness and/or side effects. For the largest multicentre study comparing chiropractic and medical management of back pain see Meade et al, Br Med J (1990); 300:1431-1437; and Br Med J (1995) 311:349-351.

Neck Pain: Research-based practice guidelines from an international multidisciplinary expert panel (Quebec Task Force on Whiplash, 1995) similarly recommend early activity, exercise and manipulation for patients suffering whiplash injuries.

Headache: Research now shows that much headache classified as tension headache or migraine in fact arises from the structures of the neck (now called "cervicogenic headache" by the International Headache Society) and that chiropractic management is appropriate and effective.