Men's Journal

New research shows that seeing a chiropractor or doing simple home exercises relieve neck pain more effectively than taking medication.

by Sarah Toland

New research from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota shows that seeing a chiropractor or doing simple home exercises like neck bends can relieve neck pain more effectively than taking pain meds like ibuprofen, Tylenol, or even narcotics. Scientists tracked more than 270 people to find that 57 percent of those who saw a chiropractor and 48 percent of those who did home exercises daily had a 75 percent drop in pain after three months; only 33 percent who took drugs reported the same relief. While popping a pill may be an instant palliative, therapy can trump prescription meds in as little as two weeks’ time, says lead author Gert Bronfort. Researchers say they were surprised by how potent simple home exercises were.