This largely depends on how wide of a search beam you project into the years of research. For example in a recent meta-analysis by Dr. Menke, a doctor of chiropractic and PhD academic out of the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, found very little supportive evidence in his meta-analyses on comparative effectiveness of various manual therapies, that include spinal manipulation in his review of the existing literature. “A comparative effectiveness meta-analysis” was performed to compare the relative effectiveness of various spinal manipulation treatments (from the ancient bonesetter to the modern back cracker), medical management (READ: drugs, injections, etc), physical therapy, and exercise for acute (less than a month) and chronic (more than 3 months) nonsurgical management of low back pain.
The good news is most pain originating from the muscles and joint in the
human body is self-limiting, meaning slowing down, protecting your
injury, and letting the body heal will often suffice. Research supports the notion that sixty to seventy per cent of acute low back pain settles in six weeks without any medical treatment. Chronic low back pain sufferers get better in a year without treatment 40 to 70 percent of the time. Pain whether short-term or long-term is indubitably unpleasant, so why suffer any longer than you have to if effective treatment is available.