A significant number of UK chiropractors and osteopaths make misleading claims about their treatments “boosting the immune system”

In the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic, it is natural for members of the public to look for treatments that may reduce their risk of catching it or help them recover. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of UK chiropractors and osteopaths who believe that they can “boost the immune system” through their treatments. This is not supported by science or evidence and there is no plausible mechanism through which these treatments could have any effect on the immune system. That hasn’t stopped far too many chiropractors and osteopaths from advertising their treatments to do just that. Whilst specific claims relating to COVID-19 are relatively few in number (although they do exist), the more general “boost the immune system” claims are much more common and present some very serious risks to the public.

Example Claims

Here is a selection of examples of misleading immune system related claims from chiropractors. None of these have any evidence to support them:

• Bedford Chiropractic Clinic – Claims that skipping “your Chiropractic adjustment” will “handicap your nervous system” and increase your risk of catching coronavirus.
• Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic – Claims that a weak immune system can be treated using spinal manipulation
• Northcote Chiropractic Clinic – Claims that chiropractic can have a positive effect on the immune system
• Putney Chiropractic Centre – Claims that regular chiropractic treatment helps maintain a strong and healthy immune system
• Inspired Chiropractic – Claims that you should “Get your spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor regularly”.
• The Chiropractic Centre – Claims that chiropractic will boost the immune system and also suggests that the benefits of vaccination are “shaky”.
• Chiropractic Health Solutions – Claims that “spinal adjustments have been shown to boost immune function”.

Here is a selection of examples of misleading immune system related claims from osteopaths. None of these have any evidence to support them:

• Health in Motion Osteopaths – Claims that osteopathy can help with the immune system and that this will help with COVID-19.
• Eltham Osteopathy Clinic – Also claims that osteopathy will help the immune system and that this could help with COVID-19.
• Core Clapton – Claims that “osteopathic treatment helps promote blood and lymph supply to enhance your innate healing capacity”.
• Essential Osteopathy – Offers “Osteopathic treatment of the common cold” and claims that osteopathy can help strengthen the immune system.
• Fiona Passey Osteopaths – Claims that osteopathy can help to treat the common cold and strengthen the immune system.
• Teddington Osteopaths – Claims that osteopathy can be good for the immune system and help fight infections.
• The Osteoperformance Clinic – Claims that cranial osteopathy may help with “Poor immune system or vitality”

I would like to make it clear that not all UK chiropractors and osteopaths make these misleading claims. However, this is also not just a small number of rogue osteopaths and chiropractors. I have provided here a few examples but this is really just the tip of the iceberg and there are a significant number of other such claims.

What does the research tell us about the effect of these treatments on the immune system?

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) conducted a rapid literature review of the benefits of spinal adjustment / manipulation (the primary treatment used by chiropractors and osteopaths) on immunity and the immune system. They concluded: “No credible, scientific evidence that spinal adjustment / manipulation has any clinically relevant effect on the immune system was found.” They went on to say “At the time of writing, there exists no credible, scientific evidence that would permit claims of effectiveness for conferring or enhancing immunity through spinal adjustment / manipulation to be made in communications by chiropractors”. This is very clear and it is good to see the WFC conducting research to provide such clarity on the position. All of the adverts from chiropractors and osteopaths above (as well as many others) are in direct conflict with this.

The National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) has also provided what they call a “Quick review” about whether osteopaths can contribute to the care and management of COVID-19. Their headline summary is accurate and states “There is no current research evidence to indicate that osteopathic manual therapy care can specifically help in the direct treatment of COVID-19 or other types of corona virus illness.” Note that there are significant issues with other aspects of this review both in terms of the methodology and claims relating to treatment of pneumonia but I’ll address these in a future blog post.

It’s very clear from all of the available research evidence that treatments from a chiropractor or osteopath do not provide any benefits for COVID-19 or the immune system in general.

How can this issue be tackled?

The regulators have already taken some action with regards to specific claims relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) wrote to osteopaths about advertising claims in relation to COVID-19. The General Chiropractic Council (GCC) has also issued a statement to chiropractors about not making claims relating to COVID-19. It’s good to see regulators taking these steps in order to protect the public. However, given the number of misleading claims that remain, there is clearly a lot more to be done. In particular, the regulators need to tackle general claims about “boosting the immune system” not just those relating specifically to COVID-19. Given the serious risks presented to the public, it would be good to see regulators taking disciplinary action against chiropractors and osteopaths who continue to make these claims.

Conclusion

There is no plausible mechanism by which the treatments offered by chiropractors or osteopaths could have any effect on the immune system. There is also no evidence that these treatments provide any benefits. In spite of this, many UK chiropractors and osteopaths continue to advertise these treatments. The regulators (GCC and GOsC) have provided guidance to chiropractors and osteopaths about this in connection with COVID-19 but this now needs to be widened to cover ALL claims relating to the immune system. This also needs to be enforced more rigorously in order to protect the public from being misled and placed at risk of harm.