Note: This advice is given by the CAP Executive about non-broadcast advertising. It does not constitute legal advice. It does not bind CAP, CAP advisory panels or the Advertising Standards Authority.
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, with special emphasis on the spine. It emphasises manual therapy including spinal manipulation and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation, and includes exercises, and health and lifestyle counselling.
Chiropractors are regulated by statute by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and may therefore refer to conditions for which suitably qualified medical advice should be sought, provided they hold convincing evidence of the efficacy of their treatments.
Which medical conditions can Chiropractors claim to treat?
Can Chiropractors claim to treat other conditions?
Are claims to treat babies, children and pregnant women acceptable?
Which medical conditions can Chiropractors claim to treat?
In 2017 the ASA carried out an evidence review on the use of multi-modal approaches used in Chiropractic in treating sciatica, whiplash and sports injuries as well as the treatment of babies, children and pregnant women as specific patient groups. The subsequent ASA Guidance explains in more detail the types of claims (including phraseology) that are likely to be acceptable for chiropractors to make in their advertising and those which are not. We recommend chiropractors consider this CAP advice and the ASA Guidance together when making treatment claims in advertising.
Based on all evidence submitted and reviewed to date, the ASA and CAP accept that chiropractors may claim to treat the following conditions:
Ankle sprain (short term management)
Cramp
Elbow pain and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
Headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic)
Joint pains
Joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
General, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
Generalised aches and pains
Lumbago
Mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
Migraine prevention
Minor sports injuries
Muscle spasms
Plantar fasciitis (short term management)
Rotator cuff injuries, disease or disorders
Sciatica (General references, as opposed to pain reduction claims - see ASA Guidance)
Shoulder complaints (dysfunction, disorders and pain - but not 'frozen shoulder' see ASA Guidance)
Soft tissue disorders of the shoulder
Tension and inability to relax
Can Chiropractors claim to treat other conditions?
Any conditions that are not reflected above or which go beyond the specific conditions as described above would need to be supported by robust clinical evidence to support their claims.
Are claims to treat babies, children and pregnant women acceptable?
As regulated health professionals, chiropractors may refer to treating specific population groups such as pregnant women, children and babies. However, at present there is a limited or negative evidence base for the effectiveness of chiropractic in treating conditions specific to those groups, such as colic or morning sickness.
Consequently, references to treatment for symptoms and conditions that are likely to be understood to be specific to babies, children or pregnant women are unlikely to be acceptable unless the marketer holds a robust body of evidence.
Where an adequate evidence base has been established for the efficacy of chiropractic treatments for particular conditions in the general population, claims that do not materially depart from those already deemed acceptable by the ASA and CAP and which describe interventions that are consistent with chiropractic practice, are likely to be acceptable.
The ASA Guidance provides some very useful examples about which claims are likely to be acceptable and which claims are not.
Can Chiropractors call themselves “Dr”?
Chiropractors who are registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) are given a courtesy title of “Doctor of Chiropractic”. Chiropractors are permitted to use this title (and similar abbreviated titles, including DC, DoC and Dr) in ads provided that title is sufficiently qualified so that it does not mislead.
CAP Advice on Use of the term Dr: Chiropractors sets out the ASA/CAP expectations on how the titles should be used in advertising.