Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

Research makes the healthcare world go ‘round! Research solidifies the role of healthcare’s relief of pain. For chiropractic healthcare, much research entails documenting chiropractic’s benefit for painful musculoskeletal conditions like neck pain, back pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center delivers just such research-documented, effective care to our Pensacola chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

One set of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to create long-term plans to decrease 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. Vexingly, back pain disability levels have not increased despite an increased quantity of published research papers regarding back pain care. No consensus on the best 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 seems like spinal manipulation is really challenging. (Just touching a spine can help 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 report on changes and effects. Fortunately, Cox® Technic research has a mix of biomechanical and clinical observational studies resulting in case reports, case series, plus retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center feels this mix of research support helps define to our Pensacola chiropractic patients what clinical outcome relief they may anticipate.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Occasionally, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike find themselves frustrated 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 offered 50% improvement in 30 days as the goal…and still does. Many times, chiropractic patients realize that 50% relief in less 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 attaining 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 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 is not a huge move but is reasonable. (2) It’s a statistic to share. Compared with medical and surgical outcomes for back pain treatment that are as low as 10% or 30% expected improvement MCID, our Pensacola chiropractic clinical outcome targets 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 settings with well-established and well-financed 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 assemble research talent and resources to advance chiropractic’s quality and quantity of research.  (3,4) Robust research carries on at chiropractic universities to document the benefits of chiropractic for musculoskeletal-related pain like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and leg pain.

CONTACT Pensacola Spinal Rehab 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.

Schedule your next Pensacola chiropractic appointment now. Bring your questions about the research behind our chiropractic care with you! Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center is always ready to share research! 

 
Pensacola Spinal Rehab 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."