Call us to set up an appointment! 360-260-6903

Vancouver Disc Centers Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

Research makes the healthcare world go ‘round! Research established the role of healthcare’s relief of pain. For chiropractic healthcare, much research entails providing evidence of chiropractic’s benefit for painful musculoskeletal pain issues like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Vancouver Disc Centers offers just such research-documented, effective care to our Vancouver chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

A set of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to develop long-term plans to lower the burden of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems. They described that developing effective strategies continues to be a daunting task for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Frustratingly, back pain disability levels have not increased despite a larger number of published research reports regarding back pain care. No consensus on the optimal way to handle low back pain has been agreed upon. Non-drug and non-invasive approaches like exercise, manual therapy, massage, and such are typical recommendations. Other 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 seems like spinal manipulation is really challenging. (Just touching a spine can help some, but that’s a topic for a different article!) Observational studies are the next best thing. How so? Researchers observe how patients respond when they go through 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. Vancouver Disc Centers feels this mix of research support helps outline the expectations our Vancouver chiropractic patients may anticipate.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Occasionally, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike are 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’s reported as an “effective” outcome. Cox® Technic has offered 50% improvement in 30 days as the aim…and still does. Many times, 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 desire 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 big move but is reasonable. (2) It’s a statistic to consider. Weighed against medical and surgical outcomes for back pain treatment that are as low as 10% or 30% expected improvement MCID, our Vancouver 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, experiences a little more difficulty in keeping research flowing as many programs are not incorporated into large university settings with well-established and well-funded research departments. Global chiropractic researchers are looking for 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 assets to advance 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 Vancouver Disc Centers

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 of which he’s been a part.

Make your next Vancouver chiropractic appointment now. Bring your questions about the research behind our chiropractic care with you! Vancouver Disc Centers loves to share research! 

 
Vancouver Disc Centers communicates the importance and value of chiropractic research in healthcare decision-making and relevance. 
« View All Featured Articles
"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."