6.1 INTRODUCTION
There has been much happening in research of chiropractic worldwide but not surprisingly most predominantly in North America. In Canada there has been considerable multi-disciplinary research within university settings but especially at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. In the United States of America the Palmer College of Chiropractic has certainly been most prominent in developing a research facility. The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) founded in 1995, is the largest programme dedicated to chiropractic research in the World. [1] There is much that has been done and considerable funds have been made available in the development of the Research Agenda and preparation for the development of potential research topics over all three Palmer campuses. [See 6.3. below] Before examining the development of research funding, the establishment of research centers and ongoing potential for research into chiropractic in the USA however, let us examine what has occurred in Canada.
6.2 THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE
The faculty members of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) are active in the “Centre for Interprofessional Health Dynamics.”The centre studies aspects of interprofessional care such as public health impact and health policy implications. Improved care quality and patient satisfaction has been found in studies involving the CMCC staff in multi-disciplinary teams at the St Michael’s Hospital. [2] Research in chiropractic education has been addressed through a comprehensive review of both medical and chiropractic literature from March of 1997 to March of 2005 on the 7 thematic areas identified in the Research Agenda Conference’s 1997 article (i.e., curriculum, assessment, instructional methods, admissions, faculty development and evaluation, postgraduate and continuing education, and patient centeredness). [3]
6.2.1 THE RECENT PLANS OF CMCC
Dr. John J. Triano, DC, PhD, FCCS (C) (Hon), Is the Dean of Graduate Education and Research Programs Professor at the CMCC in Toronto. In June of 2009 the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association carried a short report written by Dr. Triano wherein he provided a summary of where research at this educational institution is headed. At the same time he provided a short biological sketch of members of his research team. His short article, which includes succinct observations on the various needs in research at an academic institution, is discussed here. (Details on his team members can be readily accessed through the given reference to the Canadian Journal)
Making lives better through practice and research
John J. Triano, DC, PhD, FCCS (C, Hon) [4]
Dr Triano notes that Canada has history within chiropractic of expertise. Recent efforts show that Canada is still the leader in Chiropractic research. Indeed Canada has taken the bold step of integrating chiropractic researchers into the University system throughout the country. He highlights that although the placement of researchers within the universities is important, the chiropractic colleges themselves also need to keep building their research base. The reasons for this are that society demands of professions that they be well developed and researched. The profession also needs to cultivate young minds to become researchers; this is best done in the colleges.
The driving force behind CMCC is to create a scientific niche for the profession and ensure that this knowledge brings value to the community.
CMCC has invested in five new laboratories on the campus. These laboratories are for Biomechanics and Elastography, Tissue Testing, Cellular and Molecular, Materials and Fabrication and Neurophysiology. Research at CMCC is also organized around two centres, they are: 1) The Centre for Study of Interprofessional Health Dynamics, and 2) The Centre for Study of Mechanobiology, Injury and Health.
6.2.2 THE CONSORTIUM OF CANADIAN CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH CENTRES
Areas of potential research have been also been addressed in Canada through the deliberations of ‘The Consortium of Canadian Chiropractic Research Centres (CCCRC). [5] Formed in 1997, the CCCRC’s role is to coordinate and facilitate chiropractic research throughout Canada.
Since its inception the CCCRC has conducted three workshops. We would consider it germane to examine what this body has covered within these Workshops and to ascertain whether any recommendations or pathways the consortium has followed have met its established aims or purpose.
6.2.3 THREE WORKSHOPS: A COMPOSITE REPORT
As recorded in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 2009: 53 (1) the First Workshop was held in the year 2000. It resulted in nine broad research priorities being established for the CCCRC. The focus is on musculoskeletal disorders and their impact on society as a whole. The participants at the workshop included leading Canadian and foreign researchers. [5]
Workshop II (2002)
Held in October 2002, Workshop II took the nine priorities from workshop 1 and refined them into 3 research streams, namely Spinal Biomechanics, Neurophysiology and Epidemiology. Funding for the workshop came from the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) and 4 CIHR institutes, the Institute of Aging (IA), Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) and the Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH)
Following Workshop II was an Implementation Phase from 2002–2009 that was centered on the “Development of Research Capacity”. The key issue here was to determine points of collaboration, build intellectual capacity, support the research agenda and link new researchers with existing CIHR personnel.
Within the seven years the CCRF with the help of CIHR have been quite successful in following the program. The establishment of the university-based Professorships/Chairs across Canada was a main outcome of the program. [5] (See 5.3 above).
6.2.4 RECOGNITION OF PROGRESS: PRIOR TO WORKSHOP III
The June/July 2009 edition of the Ontario Chiropractic Association Newsletter, ‘OCA NEWS’ carried a front page report headed “Canadian Chiropractic Researchers Win Praise at WFC Congress.” The report went on to describe the information provided to those in attendance and the obvious excitement at the reported developments. Eight Canadian chiropractic researchers gave 15 minute overviews of their work. As an example Dr. J David Cassidy spoke about the work of 10 researchers working with him at the University of Toronto. It was noted that Canada has the most research output and university-based researchers in the world of chiropractic. [6].’
There is now little doubt that the stage has been set for expansion of the areas of research into chiropractic that will be carried out through Canadian Research Chairs or in the various centers which have been established in Canadian Universities or at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
6.2.5 Workshop III
On October 1st and 2nd 2009 Workshop III, of The Consortium of Canadian Chiropractic Research Centers (CCCRC) was held in Montreal ’after a seven year hiatus [7]. The CCA research committee determined that the meeting should be held every two years subsequently with CCA to provide funding.
It is considered appropriate to present a synopsis of this rather extensive report to give the reader a picture of the advances, objectives and likely ongoing plans as recorded in this bulletin.
In brief the Workshop objectives were to present the latest research developments, assist the Consortium in relationship development and work on a strategic plan to ensure knowledge is transferred to policy makers and end users. [7]
A major purpose of the event was to get researchers together with researchers from other disciplines. The event highlighted that regular interaction between researchers and decisions makers is necessary to ensure new one of the most knowledge is eventually used.
Considerably more information is available in the Canadian Chiropractic Research Bulletin #17 of December 15, 2009. An ever-growing list of Consortial members is provided along with their University affiliation and a number of Chiropractic Researcher Profiles.
6.3 THE USA: THE PALMER COLLEGE CONTRIBUTION
Although the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport Iowa is the focal point for research within its expansive research clinic the Center does encompass all three of the Palmer campuses. That means that faculty and staff at Palmer College Florida and Palmer College West in California are also involved with the exciting research being conducted through the Center. [8]
6.3.1 DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES
As detailed on the PCC Website, the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR), founded in 1995, does rightly boast the largest programme dedicated to chiropractic research in the world.
The centre has achieved a number of firsts. Palmer was the first institute to receive a direct federal government grant to create and later expand a research facility, to receive a grant to establish an annual national research conference and to get a grant for the provision of Masters level clinical research training. [8]
6.3.2 THE USE OF FACILITIES
The research facilities which have been established at Palmer College are being used to good effect. A considerable number of projects have been completed and the findings reported in Peer reviewed publications but the highlights of some on-going programs are worthy of mention and some explanation [9]:
- The Center for the Study of Mechanisms and Effects of Chiropractic Adjustments is a collaborative, three-year project with National University of Health Sciences, Kansas State University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, and the University of Iowa to establish a multidisciplinary developmental center for the study of mechanisms and effects of chiropractic care. It is supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health.
- Educational Research is focused on studies to evaluate and improve chiropractic education.
- Experimental Biomechanics and Neurosciences Research includes basic science oriented studies relevant to chiropractic theory and practice.
- Health Services and Policy Research concentrates on studies of high-priority health policy issues involving utilization, cost, quality and access as it relates to chiropractic healthcare delivery.
In the Summer 2008 edition of ’insights‘a Palmer College of Chiropractic publication [Vol. 3 No.2], in the ’Features‘section under the heading ’Translating research into better health‘we find a clear explanation of what the term ’Translational research in chiropractic‘ is all about. The explanation begins with the following statement: [10]
’Translational research’ is research that not only involves the researcher but in healthcare includes the Doctors and patients. The research is based on the idea that to increase health, research innovations need to be “translated” into practical and useful applications. Although this research has been ongoing in medicine for some time, Palmer College is now taking the lead in applying it within chiropractic.
6.3.3 Translational Research Defined
Translational research involves taking the findings from laboratory, clinical or population studies and converting them into clinically useful tools.
Translational research is collaborative in nature with scientists and clinicians working together, The clinicians benefit from new tools and the researchers are able to get useful feedback to guide or generate new research investigations Since 2007, Palmer college has been working on its’ research vision and recognized the need to incorporate translational research as a key component. [10]
6.3.4 Funding For the Future of Chiropractic Research
Palmer is not only the first chiropractic college to pursue translational research, they are also the first to receive federal government of USA funding to conduct it. Infact the NCCAM awarded a $2.63 Million grant to Palmer to create the Developmental Center for Clinical and Translational Science in Chiropractic.[10]
6.4 THE NIH Guide – STARTING POINT OF RESEARCH
The question must be asked. Where is the starting point for research of a meaningful nature into the value or otherwise of chiropractic care? What are the risks? Are they known and what are the known advantages?
Perhaps the answer to the first question posed might be found in a 13 page document issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH) relating to the Center for Chiropractic Research. This NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 8, was dated March 14, 1997. The first page was predominantly occupied with a statement of Purpose which included the following three paragraphs [11]:
PURPOSE
‘The Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) was formed in 1991 by Congress permanently incorporated within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), since 1993. OAM’s mission is to support CAM research with eventual integration of valid practices into the healthcare system. Chiropractic is one of the most used forms of CAM by the U.S. Public. The goal of this RFA initiative is to encourage research of chiropractic by establishing a Center for Chiropractic Research. Such a Center will make available to investigators interested in chiropractic the resources necessary for the conduct of high quality research.’
The NIH Guide simply stated:
Research topics include, but are not limited to, randomized, controlled clinical trials of chiropractic care for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, studies examining the rates and types of treatment complications, the amount and type of treatment necessary to achieve significant outcomes, cost-effectiveness analysis of chiropractic care and projects examining the underlying, biomedical/pathophysiological basis of chiropractic therapies. [11]
6.5 DECADE LATER – 1st Chiropractor Research Agenda Workshop
In November 2006 the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics carried a new set of “White Papers” emanating from the 10th annual Research Agenda Conference. One of those papers took the form of a “Commentary” bringing together the history of the first such conference and making due comment upon developments over the intervening decade and looking realistically at the developing culture of research throughout the chiropractic world. The Abstract of the paper of Dr Dana Lawrence, Associate Professor at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research and Dr William Meeker, then Vice President for Research Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, Iowa, and now President of Palmer College West in California, is presented hereunder, but the interested reader or serious scholar should be drawn to the complete document available through the given reference.
’The commentary discusses the changes that have arisen since the first Chiropractic research agenda Workshop. It is noted that a second set of white papers (updating the first set) were produced at the most recent Conference. The White paper review was a key part of the conference and entailed assessing how many of the steps from the first set were completed and how many remain incomplete. From the review new articles were written that update the first white papers and outline the new approaches to research for the profession. [12]
6.6 THE TURN AROUND
Financial support for chiropractic research in the USA has generally come from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. In 1994-5 they awarded 7 grants worth a total of $2.3 million. Other funding sources are the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (awarding11 grants worth a total of $881,000) and the Consortium for Chiropractic Research (awarding 4 grants worth a total of $519,000). [13]
The FCER was a major source of funds for research into chiropractic right up until its demise in 2009. FCER funded $11M of research directly and was able to leverage on another $20M of federal grants during its existence. [14]
6.7 Funding Situation in the USA
The National Institutes of Health in the USA, in outlining their Research project Grants for the Fiscal year 2010 budget point out that they spent $16.4 billion in the 2010 financial year to support medical research. The grants represent 53% of the Total NIH budget.
They report that they will provide support for 9,849 new and completing projects in the 2010 financial year. Each research grant costs on average $400,000. [15]
In addressing Research Priorities in the Fiscal year of 2010 the NIH states [15] that they aim to keep a diverse range of projects funded.
It would be the hope of the Chiropractic Profession in the USA and indeed from around the world that part of the clinical research results, which are translated into clinical practice, would be that which comes from chiropractic research programs.
As pointed out by Dr Matthew McCoy DC MPH on his website on the 29th January 2010 [16]:
In 2009 the chiropractic profession spent just over half a million dollars ($525,000.00) on lobbying activities. The breakdown of spending was
| Lobbying Body (Chiropractic) | Amount Spent |
| American Chiropractic Association | $365,000 |
| Logan College of Chiropractic | $40,000 |
| Association of Chiropractic Colleges | $80,000 |
| Texas Chiropractic College | $40,000 |
| TOTAL | $525,000 |
In contrast, figures for the healthcare and insurance lobby are huge and dwarf the efforts made by chiropractic organisations. A total of $648 Million was spent on lobbying with a further $210 Million on TV advertising
Some of the Lobbying figures are included in the table below
| Lobbying Body (HealthCare & Insurance) | Amount Spent |
| Drug Companies | $245 Million |
| Pfizer | $22 Million* |
| Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America | $26 Million |
| United States Chamber of Commerce | $144 Million |
| TOTAL | $648 Million^ |
Nb: ^Total Figure Sum is made up of other bodies not shown in the table.
*Pfizer figure is included in Drug company total of $245 Million, but is shown separately to highlight.
6.8 WHERE FUNDS ARE BEING APPLIED: THE AMERICAN SCENARIO
Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
As mentioned elsewhere, the PCCR is the largest institutional chiropractic research effort in the world. The Center continues to promote excellence and leadership in scientific research. As mentioned above the Center also utilizes the resources of Palmer’s two branch campuses—in San Jose, Calif., and Port Orange, Fla.—and collaborators at other institutions in its chiropractic research efforts. PCCR has the highest budget allocation for research of the chiropractic colleges. PCCR budget is also supplemented by external grants from organisations such as NIH, NCCAM and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. In fact external funds amount to almost $30 million over the past 10 years and have been key to the expansion of PCCR. [17]
The following research project is presented as an example of current and ongoing research being conducted at and by the PCCR. There are other Chiropractic Colleges and individual research scientists involved with diverse projects of interest to the chiropractic community and to other health care sciences. Other countries have also shown interest in, and have made commitments to continuing research into chiropractic. As benefits are seen to accrue other sources yet untouched for funding of such research will undoubtedly be found.
6.8.1 R25: Expanding Evidence based Clinical Practice and Research across the Palmer College of Chiropractic
According to matters of history the chiropractic profession has largely developed outside of mainstream healthcare. Despite this chiropractic emerged as the largest of those health professions categorized as CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). However this evolution did inhibit the development of the research culture and interlinking of the profession with other health research bodies.
We designed this program to meet the goals of the NIH, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Program Announcement. This program is the “CAM Practitioner Research Education Project Grant Partnership.” It was designed to meet the goals of the NIH, NCCAM programs. The plan is to partner with the University of Iowa and Thomas Jefferson University to achieve the program goals. The goals are to increase the research and evidence-based medicine content within Palmer’s chiropractic curriculum. The hope is that it will assist Palmer students to become more attuned to how to do and evaluate research and encourage them to undertake further study. [17]
6.9 WHAT OF CANADA?
For an indication of what is happening in Canada let us return to the longest established educational base for chiropractic in that country. We have already discussed the plans that have been set in place for both faculty and Research staff who are associated with the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, Ontario. We have also looked at governmental allocation of research funds for that country. Looking back at the college website in the section devoted to Research we find one or two pages devoted to ’Partners and Funders‘. Therein we find [18]:
6.9.1 CMCC Research Partners and Fund Givers.
CMCC has active involvement with researchers at universities and within government and industry. Collaboration to conduct studies in laboratories and clinics with the following list of organizations has allowed CMCC staff and students to conduct basic & clinical science studies as well as healthcare policy research. Some of the partners of CMCC are the University of Toronto, Master University, University of Alberta, National University of Health Sciences, Columbia University and the University of California, Los Angeles. They are also working with Texas Back Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto), Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA) and the Cleveland Clinic
Some of the projects CMCC researchers are collaborating on:
6.9.2 DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES ON PAIN
- A project with McMaster University is evaluating for sensation differences when there is inflammation around the arm and leg nerve roots as they exit the spine.
- Working with the University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital on a study of posterior pelvic joint pain to improve x-ray diagnosis and management of sacroiliac pain.
6.9.3 TREATMENT STUDIES TO ENSURE SAFER AND BETTER RESULTS
- As an example, CMCC is working with Columbia University and the University of Vermont in an ultrasound imaging study to show the strain on tissues when doing activities and when undergoing manual treatments. The aim is to identify more effective means of relieving pain.
6.9.4 RESEARCH TO EXPAND THE HORIZONS OF CHIROPRACTIC
- CMCC working with the University of North Texas and some interdisciplinary sponsors will convene a panel of experts to set research priorities for testing manual therapies for the treatment of non-musculoskeletal conditions. [18]
6.10 WHAT OF OTHER COUNTRIES?
6.10.1 AUSTRALIA
6.10.1.1 The Australian Spinal Research Foundation
6.10.1.2 ASRF Expression of Interest Guidelines: Grant Round 2010
For any aspiring researcher the ASRF has set out very clear ’Expression of Interest Guidelines‘. These may vary from year to year but the general format which has been developed over the years is reflected in the 2010 four page document. The following points give an indication of the categories of Grants and the basic approach being taken with year 2010 grant applications. ASRF has two basic grant segments; they are Large Research Grants (LRG) and New Researchers Grants (NRG).
LRG are for clinically relevant research topics. Thus it includes clinical studies, basic science and general health management studies. Maximum budget is $40K per annum for up to 3 years. NRG is for individuals embarking on research with a maximum grant of $20K for one year. [19]
[Full details on the procedures to be followed when an Expression of Interest has been accepted and an applicant is invited to submit a full grant application are obtainable from the ASRF Website]
6.10.1.3 Evidence of University Based Research in Australia
There are currently three Australian Universities that have established educational programmes in the Science of Chiropractic. At each of these institutes the importance of meaningful research into the application of chiropractic techniques and the contribution such research can make to understanding the success of the use of the chiropractic drug free approach to health care has been recognised. Each of these universities have enunciated their intentions of contributing to the welfare of consumers of health care through such inquiry and have made this information available on their individual websites.
(i) Murdoch University Perth, Western Australia
Research at Murdoch is based around two areas of interest, clinical research and human performance research. Clinical research is focused on musculoskeletal disorders, exercise & disease and injury prevention & rehabilitation. Human performance research is studying temperature regulation, fatigue and skills acquiring. [20]
(ii) MacquarieUniversitySydney, New South Wales
Chiropractic education is provided at Macquarie University within the Faculty of Science. The Faculty of Science is one of four faculties at Macquarie University. The Science Faculty encompasses ten departments and eighteen centres. [21]
The Department of Chiropractic makes particular reference to research and shows how it has proceeded to carry on the traditions of Macquarie while pursuing topics of research which embrace new avenues of inquiry in the field of complementary medicine.
Research at Macquarie is focused on community health issues, basic and applied chiropractic matters and promoting evidence-based teaching.
Some examples of completed research programs include Children’s spinal health and the development of a safe backpack; and the relationship of stress, ergonomics and neck disorders to migraines.
Current Postgraduate Research being conducted at Macquarie University in relation to Chiropractic studies include the following:
- Peter Bablis, PHD A randomised controlled trial of NET on chronic low back pain
- Farouk Badawi, PHD The effect of leg length discrepancy on spino-pelvic biomechanics
- Benjamin Brown, PHD A RCT of the effect of a biophsychosocial-based treatment approach on the clinical manifestation of hypothyroidism
- George Dragasevich, PHD Injury surveillance study on elite professional rugby league footballers
- John Dulhunty, PHD The validity and reliability of radiographs for assessing mechanical integrity of the Lumbo Pelvic Spine
- Roger Engel, PHD A study of the relationship between Spinal manipulation and Cardio-Respiratory function
- Wayne Hoskins, PHD The effect of chiropractic treatment on hamstring injury in elite AFL players
- Andrew McHardy, PHD The epidemiology of golf injuries in Australia
- Sue-Ellen McKelvey, PHD Chiropractic and asthma co-management of multifactorial illness
- Mario Pribicevic, PHD A randomised controlled clinical trial of chiropractic treatment for shoulder pain
A further Arm of the Research wing of the Department of Chiropractic is the Macquarie Injury Management Group [MIMG}. Founded in 2004 and multidisciplinary, they aim to enhance clinical excellence with research knowledge from clinical studies, trials and epidemiological research.
The MIMG have completed an interesting array of studies and have reported on same. They include the following topics:
- Acromiovicular Sprain
- Cervical Stenosis
- Golf and Upper Limb Injuries
- Golf Injuries: A Review
- Hamstring Injury Management
- Injuries in Australian Rules Football
- Injury Associated With Soccer
- Labral Injuries: A Review of Diagnosis and Treatment
- Lateral Ankle Injury
- Lower Back Pain In Golfers
- Management of Hamstring Injury Part 1
- Multimodel Treatment Approach of the Shoulder
- Practitioner Percpetions of Emotion Associated With Pain
- Rotator Cuff Impingement
- Rugby League Injury
- Successful Management of Hamstring Injuries
- Quadrilateral Space Syndrome
- Unusual Cause of Wrist Pain in a Golfer [22]
(iii) Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University Melbourne, Victoria
Chiropractic Research Specialties at RMIT University
Research interest at RMIT includes neuroscience, clinical research (effectiveness, safety), education issues, nutritional and psychosocial matters. Masters and PhD research programs are available. [23], [24]
(iv) Other Australian Universities
It would appear that academics at other Australian universities are interested in research into chiropractic. An informative paper, which was featured in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, in July of 2008, was contributed by two faculty members from the University of Queensland and a faculty member from the University of Newcastle, in New South Wales. The paper suggests that Qualitative research methods would be useful for improving understanding of some of the core aspects of chiropractic. [25]
The authors were Jon Adams, PhD Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Social Medicine Division, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia Alex Broom, PhD Lecturer, School of Social Science, University of Newcastle, Australia and Megan Jennaway, PhD Lecturer, International and Indigenous Health Division, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia.
6.11.2 NEW ZEALAND
The chiropractic profession in New Zealand has a proud history of research in an important area of diagnostic procedures used by chiropractors. This is in the area of radiology or the use of X-ray. [26] More recently research has been ongoing at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. Most of the projects involve neurophysiology research. Primary research areas are chiropractic and falls risk and the effects of adjustments on nervous system function. [27]
6.11.3 EUROPE
6.11.3.1 The European Chiropractors’ Union (‘ECU’)
The Research Fund of the ECU
The European Chiropractors’ Union Research Fund seeks to aid chiropractic by supporting research in chiropractic. [28] The ECU research policy supports both clinical and basic science research. Clinical and population sciences research is centered on determining chiropractic’s role in healthcare. Research topics would include epidemiological and social issues as well as evaluating diagnostic and treatment methods. Basic science research is focused on biomechanics and neurophysiology. Examples would be studying spinal movements and nerve control on the body. [29]
There are just four Institutions currently supported by the ECU Research Fund. In its’ early years the research fund supported mostly individuals in research projects. [30]
Details of research activity have recently been reported upon at the two institutes in the United Kingdom and accordingly pertinent details are presented hereunder.
6.11.3.2 Anglo European College of Chiropractic
This Spring/Summer AECC News of 2010 carries the report of a new research laboratory and details of two research fellows who are conducting important and unique studies [31]: The New Research Laboratory includes equipment for measuring electrical activity during studies. Thus far studies have been conducted using ECG to examine the effects of stress on heart rate. Other research areas include Parkinson’s disease and trigger points.
AECC Research Fellows
The British Chiropractors’ Association and AECC have provided funding for two research fellows at AECC. One of the studies involves identifying the prognostic factors important for the recovery of low back pain patients undergoing chiropractic care.
The second research fellow is focused on developing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). The program aims to produce an instrument to collect data from regular chiropractic patient visits. This will then be used to collect data from patients undergoing care in routine chiropractic practices. Thus far two questionnaires have been developed. Once finalized the questionnaires will be used in a second phase of the study to examine outcomes and cost of chiropractic treatment. [31]
6.11.3.3 Welsh Institute of Chiropractic at Glamorgan University Wales.
Recent studies at the Glamorgan have been collaborative with chiropractors working with Italian researchers from the University of Turin. The research examined if consistent changes occur in motor unit firing patterns following manipulation. Research data was collected using serial EMG with analysis to occur in Italy. [32]
Other members of the staff are seeking collaboration to conduct studies on pain and social interaction. [33]
Clinical Research
There are a numerous fields of interest in clinical research activity at Glamorgan. They include:
Epidemiological studies to examine the types of low back pain found in South Wales by chiropractors.
Clinical Trials examining the efficacy of chiropractic treatment for chronic low back pain as well as for managing patients with reflux disorder.
Clinical Studies involving detection of visceral disorders through examination of muscle activity. As an example there is a study to assess if patients with tinnitus have changes in neck muscle stiffness.
Case Based Studies is examining how to identify patients with serious disorders that appear to have biomechanical problems. Current interest is in how to detect patients that have a stroke in progress. [34]
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