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 […]
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 […]
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.
September 18, 2020
Opioid overuse (or the misuse of certain strong painkillers and other drugs) has long been a public health concern. In fact, in 2018, it was reported that 128 people died every day in the United States because of opioid misuse. Misuse, addiction, healthcare and other associated issues present a massive cost not only in the United States but in other countries across the world. Currently, there isn’t a strong dataset telling us about the prognosis when moving to conservative care after long-term opioid (painkiller) use for the management of a condition. That’s what makes this case report very interesting. The […]
July 24, 2020
Regardless of your preferences in health care, pain management is a complicated topic that researchers remain invested in. Issues like sensitivity to pain, learned responses to pain and of course misuse of pain medication in many cases make it an important and complicated topic. That’s what makes the following study a particularly poignant one: it looked at the impact of spinal manipulation on two biomarkers associated with pain perception and sensitivity. The study of pain sensitivity and perception is an ongoing area and will likely remain so. Previous studies focussing on the effects spinal manipulation can have on pain sensitivity […]
July 10, 2020
A recent piece published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine has taken a novel look at the potential offerings when it comes to manual therapy modalities and the workforce. Specifically, the study looked at how manual therapy (including spinal manipulation) might impact upon absenteeism and presenteeism in the workforce. While chiropractic research is commonly focused on either the resolution of musculoskeletal disorders or the effects of subluxation on things like strength, balance, mental performance or other brain-based functions, this paper represents an interesting move into the broader potential applications of chiropractic care. Absenteeism is generally defined as employees calling […]
April 17, 2020
Its old news that chronic low back pain affects a lot of people and that this number increases with age. It is also an old chiropractic adage that says “the aim of chiropractic is to add years to life and life to years.” But beyond the rhetoric, is there any truth to the saying? A recent study examined the coping and management techniques of chronic low back pain sufferers under chiropractic care – and the results are in. There is often a perception that individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) may have become habituated to their condition: that is […]
November 19, 2019
At the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, we exist to fund, facilitate and disseminate chiropractic research – specifically research into the vertebral subluxation. We caught up with Dr Adrian Wenban who had recently applied to have his study funded through the ASRF. The study, titled “Effects of Cervical Chiropractic Adjustments on Heart Rate Variability, Quality of Life, and Tumor Markers of Colon Cancer Patients”, is an exciting area of investigation. Our President surprised him by letting him know that his project has been funded in full, thanks to a collaboration between the United Chiropractic Association and the ASRF. Watch our video […]
November 8, 2019
This week, we thought we’d throw you something different. For an organisation that funds and disseminates research, there’s no greater treat than breaking the good news. We caught up with Tanja Glucina (Chiropractor and PhD candidate) for what she thought was a run-of-the-mill interview. Check out her reaction and hang around to hear about the fascinating topic she is investigating. It’s a great time to be supporting chiropractic research!
November 4, 2019
At this year’s Spinal Research Gathering we had the good fortune of interviewing Dr Phillip Ebrall, a reputable veteran in the world of chiropractic and research, on the topic of case reports. As an academic with one PhD completed, one in progress and one in planning, his perspective on chiropractic research is a notable one that throws new light on the importance of case reports in research. We hope this interview will highlight the importance of case reports and the ease with which they can be created. Enjoy! Thank you Dr Ebrall for taking the time to step in […]
October 11, 2019
We often hear about cases of increased thoracic kyphosis – that of forward head posture due to lifestyle or other factors. But straight back syndrome (SBS) is somewhat lesser known. A thoracic deformity characterized by “loss of the normal upper thoracic spinal kyphosis”, this condition can lead to reduced antero-posterior chest diameter, compression or displacement of the heart, cardiac murmurs, chest pain and tracheal compression [1]. It is an uncommon diagnosis, so there isn’t a wealth of chiropractic literature on it, but two case studies have revealed positive results when chiropractic is introduced into the mix. Differential diagnosis of SBS is thought […]
September 23, 2019
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics posed an interesting question: how does chiropractic compare to medical treatments on 1-year changes in self-reported function, health and satisfaction with care measures? It was a representative sample of American Medicare beneficiaries, but it’s a study worth a second look as it examines a common comparison – chiropractic versus medical care. At first look, it’s an “apples and oranges” comparison. Chiropractic has been said to be a ‘care’ not a ‘treatment.’ We check for subluxations and adjust them, thus removing interference from the central nervous system. The body […]
September 11, 2019
Recent history has shown a renewed and revealing look at concussion. From movies that flagged public interest in the phenomena, to new research flagging concussions as a public health priority, it is now understood to be a potentially significant “mild traumatic brain injury” rather than simply a knock to the head. While prevention and early intervention are becoming increasingly popular topics for consideration, the question of chiropractic’s role in concussion management is less well researched. Thus, a new case series published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic is a worthy consideration in the world of post-concussion care. The study in […]
September 4, 2019
Dr. Michael Hall (a chiropractor, and the man behind “Brain DC”) caught up with the Australian Spinal Research Foundation to talk about spinal and motor tone in children; its role, its importance in cognitive development, the existing measurement tools and where we need to go in terms of research. So for this week’s blog, clear yourself some time, grab yourself a cuppa and hit ‘play.’
August 30, 2019
What exactly does chiropractic do if it isn’t a ‘treatment’ per se? It’s a question often asked, and there are countless potential answers. While we cannot claim to treat all and sundry, and we tend to rest our claims on removing interference from the nervous system and letting the body do the rest, research is beginning to illustrate the reaches of the removal of vertebral subluxations. We have seen impacts on cortical drive to the muscles, on the structure and function of the brain, and much more. But a trip through the archives of Complementary Therapies in Medicine brought up […]
August 22, 2019
What happens when surgery fails to solve the problem it was prescribed for? For many people, the answers to this question aren’t encouraging. But for a 65-year old female (and the topic of a recent case report), a failed surgical intervention was thankfully not the last resort in her quest for answers when it came to trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia isn’t a common ailment, affecting only “4-5 people per 100,000 people in the general adult population, with the incidence rising to 20 per 100,000 after the age of 60 [1]. It is a “severe, recurrent stabbing pain that primarily affects […]
August 13, 2019
It might seem that Heart Rate Variability (HRV) a bit of a hot topic in chiropractic circles right now, as practitioners and researchers alike begin to understand the many potential applications of this tool. We know that it is non-invasive in its nature, and an easy way to measure autonomic function and adaptability. But it isn’t just chiropractic science that is harnessing the insight HRV has on offer. A recent study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has shown that HRV indices are significantly associated with neck pain. It is a noteworthy study, given there is only […]