March 4, 2021
Just in case you hadn’t noticed, case reports have been taking up an increasing amount of space in journals of late, and our very own Foundation is moving to do some exciting work in this space, too. But with traditional thinking arguing that randomised controlled trials are the gold standard in evidence, it’s a good time to talk about why case reports matter. This just so happens to coincide with a thought-provoking piece authored by chiropractors Rome and Waterhouse, which appeared in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research just last month. In it, they present a well-cited, well-argued point that […]
February 25, 2021
A thorough history and examination is always an important aspect of the chiropractic experience. We know what we are looking for, and we know the red flags. But a case report appearing in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association presents a very compelling case for taking note when the symptoms change, or when something just doesn’t feel right. It covers the case of a 53-year-old man who presented to a chiropractor with lower back pain. This in itself was unremarkable. He was an avid golfer, and lower back pain is not uncommon in this group. What makes this case […]
February 17, 2021
When we hear the term “quality of life” it is usually used to describe someone who is aging, frail or in the grip of illness that affects their ability to engage with life in a healthy and vital way. Rarely do we think about quality of life outside of that construct. But perhaps we should, when the tools used to measure quality of life within a research context are actually measuring things like physical and mental wellbeing, social connectedness, daily activities, personal development or personal fulfillment and more. Thus, when some notable chiropractic research names decided to do a little […]
February 11, 2021
Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most common chronic autoinflammatory conditions observed in the human population. It is characterised by joint swelling, pain, and gradual degradation of the joint leading to decreased mobility and quality of life, making it a significant concern for sufferers. As Rheumatoid Arthritis is a complex disease, the genetic background determining the development of the illness is not well understood. Medical and pharmaceutical management of the condition is common, but what role can chiropractic play in its management? At least two case reports indicate this is a possibility. The first case, published in the Chiropractic Journal […]
February 3, 2021
To a professional or elite athlete, it is vital to have a body that is well-tuned and operating in peak condition. We have read anecdotal accounts of professional athletes, sports teams, and even the odd musical group who have chiropractic care as a part of their pre-event rituals. But do these people turn to chiropractic care in the wake of injury, or only use chiropractic as a pregame pep-up? The Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic recently published a fascinating case report of a mixed martial art practitioner who presented at a chiropractic clinic with a six-month-old injury that wasn’t quite resolving […]
January 27, 2021
For some years now, the Australian Spinal Research Foundation has been interested in research examining how the brain and nervous system responds when you remove subluxations. In many ways, this is the simplest of causes and yet somehow it is incredibly bold. Research has revealed many exciting possibilities tied up with chiropractic care. Still, debate rages inside and outside the chiropractic profession as to whether chiropractic is more than back and neck pain and the only thing that will put this question to bed for good is further research. To this end, a new study has appeared in the Asia […]
January 20, 2021
RCT examines Spinal Manipulation for Subacute and Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy As research advances and as great chiropractic minds delve into the possibilities offered by the adjustment beyond musculoskeletal pain alone, we are discovering more and more about the possibilities tied up in chiropractic care. We now know that chiropractic care can and does have a significant impact on the brain and not just the spinal aspect of the nervous system. Yet it is still true that many people think of chiropractors when they think of back pain. Thus, a recent study looking at lumbar radiculopathy is still very relevant for […]
December 16, 2020
Here we are at the end of what may seem like the longest year in modern memory. While it will go down in the history books as the year of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it has been a time of incredible and almost unprecedented activity here at the Australian Spinal Research Foundation. So here, in the last blog post of the year, it seemed like a good time to celebrate this year’s wins and let you know what is to come for us in 2021. Spoiler alert: it’s going to be an exciting year! As our members know, the Australia Spinal […]
December 9, 2020
A recent study appearing in the newly minted “Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal” has examined the reliability of a particular muscle analysis used in a common chiropractic technique – the Sacro Occipital Technique. The pilot study took a hard look at the evidence-base around work pioneered by chiropractor, Major Bertrand DeJarnette, as far back as 1962. The sacro-occipital technique (SOT) is defined as “a chiropractic technique developed to restore a functional relationship between the head, the pelvis, and the spine – a structure that envelopes and protects our central nervous system [1].” It is known as being gentle method of checking and adjusting the […]
November 30, 2020
The clothing manufacturing industry is known for its repetitive, time-sensitive nature. Not only are workers responsible for a high amount of product turnover in a small amount of time, it is often repetitive work. Previous research has indicated that this group of people have been “associated with higher salivary cortisol levels.” The level of cortisol picked up in someone’s saliva is actually very telling, as it can indicate stress levels and adrenal-gland activity. Chiropractors have long been interested in how chiropractic care may impact the human stress response, but results have been mixed as have the various study methods looking […]
November 23, 2020
Chiropractic care across the lifespan is a concept that, to some, is a given but to others is highly controversial. After all, “Why would an infant need chiropractic care?” While research has examined the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care and exposed an incredible safety record, and other research has looked at the ways in which we adapt our techniques to ensure the gentlest, most effective care for our tiniest patients, new research emerging from the desks of chiropractors Braden Keil and Christian Fludder has taken a look at something very specific and apparently not uncommon: glenohumeral (shoulder) joint dysfunction. […]
November 16, 2020
It is estimated that migraine affects around one in seven people worldwide, making it more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma and ranking as the seventh most disabling disease “among all diseases.” [1]. While types of migraine differ, this isn’t a regular headache but rather a neurological event that can create a significant amount of impairment during attacks. The causes of migraine remain somewhat mysterious (apart from solid indications that there is likely to be a genetic component), and most people treat their migraines at onset. Research indicates though, that “approximately 40% of those with episodic migraine have unmet treatment […]
November 9, 2020
The study of pain is a complex area, as pain isn’t just about injury. It’s also about the brain’s response to it. Thus, there is a lot we don’t yet know about things like pain sensitivity, pain habituation and the signals flying around in our brains that relate to all of it. While research continues to make advancements in this area, there is still a lot of work yet to be done. That is why a 2019 piece of research appearing in a journal dedicated to Clinical Neuroimaging is particularly interesting: it found evidence for decreased neurologic pain signature activation […]
November 2, 2020
Forward head posture, or Cervical Forward Flexion, has emerged as a significant postural concern over recent years with many people attributing the increase (at least in part) to the uptick in smart phone and device usage, and the subsequent hours spent looking down. However, the increases appear to hark back as early as 2002-2009 during which time “cervical spine procedures increased” alongside associated costs. A case report recently published in the Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal has released details of a 24-person retrospective case series which casts light on the potential relationship between anterior thoracic adjusting and forward head posture. The […]
October 23, 2020
The Australian Spinal Research Foundation has announced the appointment of the new President of the Foundation following the completion of Dr Craig Foote’s service on the board. Dr Craig shepherded the foundation through an incredible season of change and his are indeed big shoes to fill. We caught up with long-time board member and new president, Dr Ryan Seaman to talk about the exciting new chapter the foundation is entering – including how we fared through the COVID-19 pandemic and look to the future.
October 16, 2020
The Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal has carried an intriguing dual case report in which lumbosacral transitional vertebra are discussed as a potential contributing factor to scoliosis. Scoliosis, or abnormal curvature of the spine, is thought to affect 2-3% of the population and the age of onset ranges from 10-15 years of age. While the severity and implications of scoliosis can vary from patient to patient and hypotheses relating to potential causes abound, no specific cause for scoliosis has been identified. Enter the Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra (LSTV), which refers to the partial or complete fusion of the transverse processes of the […]
October 9, 2020
In last weeks’ interview, we caught up with Professor Suzanne Snodgrass from the University of Newcastle. She was talking about a recent study, funded by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, in which three-dimensional head and neck movements in people with neck pain were examined. The study involved chiropractic care and exercise as the interventions in order to determine whether there is a relationship between pain and movement in individuals who suffer from idiopathic neck pain (which occurs spontaneously and has no obvious cause). Here are more details from that study. Studies like this make important contributions to our understanding of […]
October 2, 2020
A new study undertaken by the University of Newcastle and funded by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation has been published. The study reveals insights into the impacts of neck pain on movement, offering important insights for clinicians. We caught up with Professor Suzanne Snodgrass to talk about it. The full study, including a full statistical breakdown of findings, can be found here.