Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

Research makes the healthcare world go ‘round! Research grounds the role of healthcare’s pain relieving ability. In chiropractic healthcare, much research revolves around providing evidence of chiropractic’s benefit for painful musculoskeletal conditions like neck pain, back pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office delivers just such effective, research-documented care to our Groton chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

One set of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to develop long-term plans to reduce the burden of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems. They explained that developing effective strategies remains a daunting task for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Vexingly, back pain disability levels have not improved despite a larger number of published research papers about back pain care. No consensus on the best way to manage low back pain has been achieved. Non-drug and non-invasive options like exercise, manual therapy, massage, and such are general 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 tough. Coming up with a “sham” protocol for spinal manipulation that feels like spinal manipulation is really challenging. (Just touching a spine can help some, but that is a topic for another discussion!) Observational studies are the next in line. How so? Researchers observe what happens to patients when they undergo treatment and note changes and effects. Fortunately, Cox® Technic research has a blend of biomechanical and clinical observational studies resulting in case reports, case series, as well as retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office feels this mix of research support helps explain to our Groton chiropractic patients what clinical outcome relief they may anticipate.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Occasionally, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike find themselves disappointed 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’s reported as an “effective” outcome. Cox® Technic has offered 50% improvement in 30 days as the goal…and still does. Often, chiropractic patients realize that 50% relief in fewer than a month and that the 50% relief is more like 70% or 80% or 90%! Sometimes, a patient’s response may be slower in getting relief or only reaches 30% or 40%. Some patients desire more while others, especially patients who have already undergone back surgery or sought non-relieving care from many other providers, are quite satisfied. A study of 1232 low back pain subjects discovered a MCID pain intensity of 2 (meaning a 2 point change on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 worst imaginable pain). That is not a huge move but is realistic. (2) It’s a statistic to share. Weighed against medical and surgical outcomes for back pain treatment that are as low as 10% or 30% expected improvement MCID, our Groton chiropractic clinical outcome objectives are high and frequently achievable.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH – AND HOW CHIROPRACTIC ANSWERS

Chiropractic, like other complementary and integrative healthcare professions, experiences a little more effort in maintaining a flow of research as many programs are not incorporated into large university settings with well-established and well-funded research departments. Global chiropractic researchers are seeking a solution.  Australia, Canada, and Denmark chiropractic researchers have created 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 combine research talent and resources 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office

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 illustrates research studies he’s managed.

Schedule your next Groton chiropractic appointment today. Bring your questions about the research supporting our chiropractic care with you! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office loves to share research! 

 
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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."