evidence-based chiropractic network
Empowering Through Evidence.™
CLAIM
Rating: FALSE
Much like the mythical unicorn, the original Pero study on cancer patients could not be found
The Pero Chiropractic Research Project, 1975
Specifically, in October 2019, the ChiroSnopes team searched the following databases in search of the purported original paper by Ronald Pero that claimed chiropractic care patients were 200-400% more immune-competent in individuals who had cancer and other serious diseases. The search included: 1. ICL (Index to Chiropractic Literature) 2. CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature) 3. AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) 4. Alt HealthWatch (through EBSCOhost) 5. PubMed 6. ResearchGate [for a list of Pero’s publications] 7. Lunds Universitet [for a list of Pero’s publications] 8. Internet Archive 9. Google 10. Google Scholar Verdict: Myth Busted The search was unable to retrieve the source document which claimed that the participants under chiropractic care were 200% to 400% to have more “immune competence” for patients with cancer and other serious health conditions compared to the non-chiropractic group. The search went as so far as to look directly at the University of Lunds, where the purported study was conducted and could not find a reference to the project. Despite this claim of improved immunity with chiropractic care persisting for over decades among the traditional faction, there is no scientific evidence to support it. The source document remains unpublished and unretrievable. Epilogue Although this project was conceived in 2019, in the context of the global viral COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that practitioners, associations, and schools refrain from making claims of effectiveness or prevention that chiropractic adjustments/manipulation boosts the immune system in populations serious health disorders including those with viral and microbial infectious disease. References Cohn A. Chiropractic and the neuroimmune connection. J Vert Sublux Res. 2008 ;Sep(30):1-5. https://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=20239 Campbell CJ, Kent C, Banne A, Amiri A, Pero RW. Surrogate Indication of DNA repair in serum after long term chiropractic intervention – a retrospective study. J Vert Sublux Res. 2005 ;FEB(18):5 p. https://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=19433 Selano JL, Collins KF, Grostic JD. The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the CD4 counts of HIV positive patients. CRJ. 1994 ;3(1):32-39. https://www.chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=5619 Pero RW. Medical researcher excited by CBSRF project results. The Chiropractic Journal. August 1989. https://web.archive.org/web/20030126032532/http:/www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/1989/aug/aug1989f.htm #science #chiropractor #chiropractic #research #education #evidence based #patient centered #interprofessional #collaborative #rehabilitation #public health #spinal health #neuromusculoskeletal #musculoskeletal health #ethics #pain #function #disability #QOL #knowledgetranslationDonate
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