Minster Chiropractic Center Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

Research makes the healthcare world go ‘round! Research solidifies the role of healthcare’s pain relieving ability. For chiropractic healthcare, much research revolves around providing evidence of chiropractic’s benefit for painful musculoskeletal pain issues like neck pain, back pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Minster Chiropractic Center delivers just such research-documented, effective care to our Minster chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

A set of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to create long-term plans to decrease the burden of low back pain on sufferers and healthcare systems. They explained that developing effective strategies continues to be a daunting task for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Frustratingly, back pain disability levels have not improved despite a larger number of published research reports about back pain care. No consensus on the optimal way to manage low back pain has been achieved. Non-drug and non-invasive approaches like exercise, manual therapy, massage, and such are typical recommendations. Another group of reviewing researchers indicated a few issues with back pain research: design and analysis within the treatment clinical trials. (1) Designing research studies is difficult. Coming up with a “sham” protocol for spinal manipulation that seems like spinal manipulation is especially challenging. (Just touching a spine can be relieving some, but that’s a topic for a different discussion!) Observational studies are the next best thing. How so? Researchers observe how patients respond when they experience treatment and note changes and effects. Fortunately, Cox® Technic research has a mix of biomechanical and clinical observational studies resulting in case reports, case series, as well as retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Minster Chiropractic Center feels this mix of research support helps outline the expectations our Minster chiropractic patients may expect.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Occasionally, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike are frustrated with the outcomes of treatment for back pain. They should not be! In medicine, the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is defined as 30% or 20% and even 10% improvement. That is reported as an “effective” outcome. Cox® Technic has offered 50% improvement in 30 days as the aim…and still does. Often, chiropractic patients find that 50% relief in fewer than 30 days and that the 50% relief is closer to 70% or 80% or 90%! Sometimes, a patient’s response may be slower in getting relief or only reaches 30% or 40%. Some patients want more while others, especially patients who have previously had back surgery or sought non-relieving care from many other providers, are thrilled. A study of 1232 low back pain subjects found a MCID pain intensity of 2 (meaning a 2 point move on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 worst imaginable pain). That’s not a big move but is realistic. (2) It is a statistic to consider. Compared with medical and surgical outcomes for back pain treatment that are as low as 10% or 30% expected improvement MCID, our Minster chiropractic clinical outcome goals are high and often achieved.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH – AND HOW CHIROPRACTIC ANSWERS

Chiropractic, like other complementary and integrative healthcare professions, has a little more effort in keeping research flowing as many programs are not in large university situations with well-established and well-financed research departments. Global chiropractic researchers are seeking a solution.  Australia, Canada, and Denmark chiropractic researchers have formed a leadership academy (CARL – Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership) for early-career chiropractic researchers to promote more chiropractic research. US-based researchers are turning to the RAND Corporation’s Center for Collaborative CIH Research to pool research talent and assets to elevate chiropractic’s quality and quantity of research.  (3,4) Strong research continues at chiropractic universities to document the benefits of chiropractic for musculoskeletal-related pain like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and leg pain.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

Listen to this PODCAST with Ram Gudavalli, PhD, principal investigator of many Cox® Technic research studies, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains research studies of which he’s been a part.

Make your next Minster chiropractic appointment soon. Bring your questions about the research behind our chiropractic care with you! Minster Chiropractic Center is always ready to share research! 

 
Minster Chiropractic Center communicates the importance and value of chiropractic research in healthcare decision-making and relevance. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."