In recent years, a number of topics have emerged through research as exciting and laden with potential for the chiropractic population. Among them have been insights into how the brain behaves pre and post-adjustment. Researchers at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic have produced an impressive body of work (that we have been honoured to support) showing things like improved joint position sense, increased strength, decreased fatigue, faster communication from the brain to the muscles and even improved pelvic floor function.
So how does this look in real life? While it is easy to speculate that better joint position sense might translate to a decrease in falls risk in older adults (also backed by research), what about a younger population? Might chiropractic help athletes move better on the field, reducing injury risk or helping them maintain strength, stamina and make decisions more quickly? While the reference list below has all the studies that might arrive at this theoretical possibility, a new pilot study has emerged asking some valuable questions of this very target group – athletes.
The study, published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic, focused on strength athletes and asked five questions pertaining to the perceived impact of spinal manipulation, of which chiropractic care is a major modality, on strength athletes. The study took place in the form of an international research survey containing five simple questions:
- Has spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) improved your recovery?
- Has spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) improved your lifting technique?
- Has spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) improved your range of motion?
- Has spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) reduced your pain or training discomfort?
- Has spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) improved your strength?
Essentially, this survey was a rubber-meets-the-road moment, comparing the possibilities laid out in research with the lived experience of strength athletes and comparing it with their performance. It was an important piece, albeit a pilot study, that moves chiropractic into an important light when it comes to proactive care for athletes for the purpose of improved performance rather than a pain-reactive, allopathic modality.
By virtue of this, it furthers a conversation that is urgently needed as we establish chiropractic’s position in proactive and rehabilitative care not just back and neck pain. Additionally, it adds a real-life element to research we have already seen.
What were the results?
To be included in the study, participants had to be between the ages of 18 and 60 years old, have competed in powerlifting, weightlifting, or strongman strength training regimes and have undertaken chiropractic care during this time.
Overall, 69 participants completed the study, with each question being answered on a one-to-ten scale with one being “not at all” and ten being “yes, very much so”. As seen above, the questionnaire was designed to cover “pain modulation, range of motion (ROM), technique, strength and recovery.”
In establishing statistical validity, 95% of the study’s participants would have to score higher than average (a numerical score of 50) to meet the confidence level. Anything lower than this would mean no statistically significant difference in the results.
The participants were between 21 and 55, with 81.2% of them being men and the rest women. In the end, the results met the 95% confidence interval. Aggregated scores are below:
- For improved recovery time, a mean of 66% improvement was noted (or 6.8 on the 1-10 scale).
- For improved lifting technique, a mean of 60% was recorded.
- For range of motion, a mean of 73% was recorded.
- Decreased pain attracted a mean score of 78%.
- And improved strength returned a mean score of 59%.
This study shows us that chiropractic care was “strongly perceived by athletes” to help with pain mitigation, and this is no surprise. But improved range of motion wasn’t far behind in the results. Improved recovering time, technique and strength were all above average.
These are encouraging results, and indicate that lived-experience and chiropractic research outcomes aren’t worlds apart. It also helps us further the conversation with athletes under our care as to what chiropractic may offer them aside from pain reduction.
The likelihood is the body already knows. But research, as always, helps us inform the mind. And on that front, there is always work to be done.
References.
- Navid MS, Niazi IK, Lelic D, et al. chiropractic spinal adjustment increases the cortical drive to the lower limb muscle in chronic stroke patients.Front Neurol. 2022;12. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.747261
- Holt K, Niazi IK, Nedergaard RW, et al. The effects of a single session of chiropractic care on strength, cortical drive, and spinal excitability in stroke patients.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39577-5
- Yang J, Lee B, Kim C. Changes in proprioception and pain in patients with neck pain after upper thoracic manipulation.J Phys Ther Sci. 2015;27(3):795-798. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.795
- Haavik H, Murphy B. Subclinical neck pain and the effects of cervical manipulation on elbow joint position sense.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011;34(2):88-97. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.12.009
- Christiansen TL, Niazi IK, Holt K, et al. The effects of a single session of spinal manipulation on strength and cortical drive in athletes.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018;118(4):737-749. doi:10.1007/s00421-018-3799-x
- Haavik-Taylor H, Murphy B. Cervical spine manipulation alters sensorimotor integration: A somatosensory evoked potential study.Clin Neurophysiol. 2007;118(2):391-402. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2006.09.014Williams B, Louis M, Gyer G. A RESEARCH SURVEY ON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT THROUGH SPINAL MANIPULATION IN A STRENGTH ATHLETE POPULATION – A PILOT STUDY. JCC. 2023;6(1):185-190.
