Pflugerville Wellness Center Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

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

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

A group of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to come up with long-term plans to decrease the problem of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems. They explained that developing effective strategies remains a huge job for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Frustratingly, back pain disability levels have not improved despite a larger number 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 methods 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 difficult. Designing a “sham” protocol for spinal manipulation that seems like spinal manipulation is really challenging. (Just touching a spine can help some, but that is a topic for another article!) Observational studies are the next in line. How so? Researchers observe how patients respond when they experience treatment and make note of 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. Pflugerville Wellness Center feels this mix of research support helps outline the expectations our Pflugerville chiropractic patients may expect.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Sometimes, 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 reported 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 realize that 50% relief in less than a month and that the 50% relief is closer to 70% or 80% or 90%! Sometimes, a patient’s response may be slower in attaining relief or only reaches 30% or 40%. Some patients want more while others, particularly patients who have already had back surgery or sought non-relieving care from many other providers, are thrilled. A study of 1232 low back pain subjects discovered 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 huge move but is reasonable. (2) It’s 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 Pflugerville 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 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 looking for am amswer.  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 looking to the RAND Corporation’s Center for Collaborative CIH Research to pool research talent and resources to advance chiropractic’s quality and quantity of research.  (3,4) Strong 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 Pflugerville Wellness 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 he’s managed.

Make your next Pflugerville chiropractic appointment today. Bring your questions about the research behind our chiropractic care with you! Pflugerville Wellness Center is always ready to share research! 

 
Pflugerville Wellness 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."