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Manahawkin 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 conditions like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center offers just such effective, research-documented care to our Manahawkin chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

A group of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to create long-term plans to reduce the problem of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems. They clarified that developing effective strategies continues to be a huge job for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Frustratingly, back pain disability levels have not increased despite an increased quantity of published research reports about back pain care. No consensus on the optimal way to manage low back pain has been agreed upon. Non-drug and non-invasive approaches like exercise, manual therapy, massage, and such are general recommendations. Other reviewing researchers pointed to a few issues with back pain research: design and analysis within the treatment clinical trials. (1) Designing research studies is tough. Designing a “sham” protocol for spinal manipulation that feels like spinal manipulation is especially challenging. (Just touching a spine can be relieving some, but that is a topic for a different discussion!) Observational studies are the next best thing. How so? Researchers observe what happens to patients when they undergo treatment and make note of changes and effects. Fortunately, Cox® Technic research has a blend of biomechanical and clinical observational studies resulting in case reports, case series, plus retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center feels this mix of research support helps outline the expectations our Manahawkin chiropractic patients may anticipate.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Occasionally, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike are disappointed with the outcomes of treatment for back pain. They shouldn’t 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 proposed 50% improvement in 30 days as the aim…and still does. Many times, chiropractic patients find that 50% relief in less than 30 days and that the 50% relief is more like 70% or 80% or 90%! Sometimes, a patient’s response may be slower in attaining relief or only reaches 30% or 40%. Some patients desire more while others, particularly patients who have already undergone 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 change on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 worst imaginable pain). That is not a huge move but is reasonable. (2) It is 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 Manahawkin chiropractic clinical outcome targets are high and frequently achievable.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH – AND HOW CHIROPRACTIC ANSWERS

Chiropractic, like other complementary and integrative healthcare professions, has a little more effort in maintaining a flow of research as many programs are not in large university situations with well-established and well-funded research departments. Global chiropractic researchers are looking for am amswer.  Australia, Canada, and Denmark chiropractic researchers have created a leadership academy (CARL – Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership) for early-career chiropractic researchers to stimulate more chiropractic research. US-based researchers are looking 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) Robust research continues at chiropractic universities to record the benefits of chiropractic for musculoskeletal-related pain like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and leg pain.

CONTACT Manahawkin 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 describes research studies he’s managed.

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

 
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center shares 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."