Articles

Physical risk factors for adolescent neck and mid back pain: a systematic review

Besides low back pain (LBP), also neck pain (NP) and mid back pain (MBP) are common health issues in adolescence. Psychological factors are regarded as main risk factors for spinal pain in adolescence, but rec...

Authors: Brigitte Wirth, Tobias Potthoff, Sandra Rosser, Barry Kim Humphreys and Eling D. de Bruin

Assessment of variability in traction interventions for patients with low back pain: a systematic review

Previous systematic reviews have concluded that lumbar traction is not effective for patients with low back pain (LBP), yet many clinicians continue to assert its clinical effectiveness.

Authors: Muhammad Alrwaily, Mohammed Almutiri and Michael Schneider

Impact of the workforce distribution on the viability of the osteopathic profession in Australia: results from a national survey of registered osteopaths

Workforce distribution has an important influence on the quality of healthcare delivered in a region, primarily because it impacts access to health services in the community and overall health equity in the po...

Authors: Amie Steel, Nigel Jackson, Raymond Blaich, Mathew Kirk and Jon Wardle

Manual therapy applied by general practitioners for nonspecific low back pain: results of the ManRück pilot-study

Nonspecific acute low back pain (LBP) is a common reason for accessing primary care. German guidelines recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical activity as evidence-based treatments. Manual...

Authors: Heidrun Lingner, Lena Blase, Anika Großhennig and Guido Schmiemann

Feasibility of the consultation-based reassurance questionnaire in Danish chiropractic practice

Reassuring information is recommended in clinical guidelines for the treatment of low back pain (LBP), but has not been clearly defined. The Consultation-based Reassurance Questionnaire (CRQ) was developed as ...

Authors: Alice Kongsted, Magnus Rudbæk Christensen, Karl Kristian Ingersen and Tue Secher Jensen

Diagnostic accuracy of diagnostic imaging for lumbar disc herniation in adults with low back pain or sciatica is unknown; a systematic review

We aim to summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of imaging (index test) compared to surgery (reference test) for identifying lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in adult patients.

Authors: Jung-Ha Kim, Rogier M. van Rijn, Maurits W. van Tulder, Bart W. Koes, Michiel R. de Boer, Abida Z. Ginai, Raymond W. G. J. Ostelo, Danielle A. M. W. van der Windt and Arianne P. Verhagen

Comparing the old to the new: A comparison of similarities and differences of the accreditation standards of the chiropractic council on education-international from 2010 to 2016

Chiropractic programs are accredited and monitored by regional Councils on Chiropractic Education (CCE). The CCE-International has historically been a federation of regional CCEs charged with harmonising world...

Authors: Stanley I. Innes, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Bruce F. Walker

The role of quadriceps muscle strength in the development of falls in the elderly people, a cross-sectional study

Falls are a major health issue in the elderly people and an important cause of bone fracture. The aim of this study was to determine the association between quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and falls in the el...

Authors: Alijan Ahmadiahangar, Yahya Javadian, Mansour Babaei, Behzad Heidari, Seyedreza Hosseini and Mohammad Aminzadeh

Unravelling functional neurology: a critical review of clinical research articles on the effect or benefit of the functional neurology approach

Functional Neurology (FN), mainly practiced by chiropractors, proposes to have an effect or a benefit on varied clinical cases, from debilitating diseases to performance enhancement in asymptomatic people.

Authors: Anne-Laure Meyer and Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde

Chiropractic in Global Health and wellbeing: a white paper describing the public health agenda of the World Federation of Chiropractic

The World Federation of Chiropractic supports the involvement of chiropractors in public health initiatives, particularly as it relates to musculoskeletal health. Three topics within public health have been id...

Authors: Michele Maiers, Mustafa Agaoglu, Richard Brown, Christopher Cassirer, Kendrah DaSilva, Reidar P. Lystad, Sarkaw Mohammad and Jessica J. Wong

Correction to: Thoracic index in adults with asthma: a study of validity and reliability

The original article [1] had 2 paragraphs which contained erroneous information. In this correction article the correct and incorrect information is shown.

Authors: Yannely Serrano-villar and Eliana-isabel Rodríguez-grande

Spontaneous cervical artery dissection: a fluoroquinolone induced connective tissue disorder?

Spontaneous cervical artery dissections more often manifest in young people and have been associated with catastrophic consequences. Some indeterminate risk factors have been identified, making the diagnosis o...

Authors: James S. Demetrious

The prevalence of the term subluxation in chiropractic degree program curricula throughout the world

The subluxation construct generates debate within and outside the profession. The International Chiropractic Education Collaboration, comprised of 10 chiropractic programs outside of North America, stated they...

Authors: Matthew F. Funk, Aric J. Frisina-Deyo, Timothy A. Mirtz and Stephen M. Perle

Testing a strength and conditioning program to prevent common manipulative technique training injuries in chiropractic students: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Spinal manipulation is the primary therapy utilised by chiropractors in the management of their patients. The skills required may feel foreign to chiropractic students as they need strength and endurance in mo...

Authors: Christopher J. Hodgetts and Bruce F. Walker

Low back pain: a major global problem for which the chiropractic profession needs to take more care

An important series of papers have been published in the Lancet. These papers provide a comprehensive update for the major global problem of low back pain, and the challenges that low back pain presents to health...

Authors: Simon D. French, Aron S. Downie and Bruce F. Walker

Be good, communicate, and collaborate: a qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives on adding a chiropractor to the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team

While chiropractors are integrating into multidisciplinary settings with increasing frequency, the perceptions of medical providers and patients toward adding chiropractors to existing healthcare teams is not ...

Authors: Stacie A. Salsbury, Robert D. Vining, Donna Gosselin and Christine M. Goertz

Biased online media coverage: chiropractic and stroke in google news

Chiropractic has professional tensions with other medical disciplines. This sets up a biased online media coverage of controversial issues, such as the unverified causal relation between chiropractic treatment...

Authors: Mohammed Al-Azdee, Stephen M. Perle and Bingjie He

Survey of chiropractic clinicians on self-reported knowledge and recognition of concussion injuries

There has been little study of the recognition of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) by the chiropractic practitioner, or of the inquiry by the clinician to assess those patients who may be suffering from the ...

Authors: David N. Taylor and Shari Wynd

The effect of chiropractic treatment on infantile colic: study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Infantile colic is a common condition during early childhood affecting around one of six newborns. The condition is characterized by inconsolable crying and fussing in otherwise healthy and thriving infants. T...

Authors: Lise Vilstrup Holm, Dorte Ejg Jarbøl, Henrik Wulff Christensen, Jens Søndergaard and Lise Hestbæk

Thoracic index in adults with asthma: a study of validity and reliability

The Thoracic Index (TI) is a useful tool for evaluating costal mobility as a component of respiritory mechanics in adults with asthma. In a review of the literature, however, few studies were found that report...

Authors: Yannely Serrano-villar and Eliana-isabel Rodríguez-grande

Spinal manipulation in the treatment of patients with MRI-confirmed lumbar disc herniation and sacroiliac joint hypomobility: a quasi-experimental study

To investigate the effect of lumbar and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) manipulation on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) concomitant with SIJ hypomobility.

Authors: Esmaeil Shokri, Fahimeh Kamali, Ehsan Sinaei and Farahnaz Ghafarinejad

Chiropractic treatment including instrument-assisted manipulation for non-specific dizziness and neck pain in community-dwelling older people: a feasibility randomised sham-controlled trial

Dizziness in older people is a risk factor for falls. Neck pain is associated with dizziness and responds favourably to neck manipulation. However, it is unknown if chiropractic intervention including instrume...

Authors: Julie C. Kendall, Simon D. French, Jan Hartvigsen and Michael F. Azari

Exploring the measurement properties of the osteopathy clinical teaching questionnaire using Rasch analysis

Clinical teaching evaluations are common in health profession education programs to ensure students are receiving a quality clinical education experience. Questionnaires students use to evaluate their clinical...

Authors: Brett Vaughan

Correction to: P-12 Assessment of Symmetrigraph and Global Postural System Results for the Posture Analysis of the Healthy Individuals

After publication of the below abstract in supplement [1] it was bought to our attention that in abstract P-12, author Kerem Alptekin’s surname name had been published incorrectly as Alptekim. The authors also...

Authors: Mehmet Toprak, Hasan Kerem Alptekin and Doruk Turhan

Can chiropractors contribute to work disability prevention through sickness absence management for musculoskeletal disorders? - a comparative qualitative case study in the Scandinavian context

Despite extensive publication of clinical guidelines on how to manage musculoskeletal pain and back pain in particular, these efforts have not significantly translated into decreases in work disability due to ...

Authors: Mette Jensen Stochkendahl, Ole Kristoffer Larsen, Casper Glissmann Nim, Iben Axén, Julia Haraldsson, Ole Christian Kvammen and Corrie Myburgh

The regional effect of spinal manipulation on the pressure pain threshold in asymptomatic subjects: a systematic literature review

Spinal manipulation (SM) has been shown to have an effect on pain perception. More knowledge is needed on this phenomenon and it would be relevant to study its effect in asymptomatic subjects.

Authors: Margaux Honoré, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Olivier Gagey

Complaints about chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists: a retrospective cohort study of health, performance, and conduct concerns

Recent media reports have highlighted the risks to patients that may occur when practitioners in the chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy professions provide services in an unethical or unsafe manner. Ye...

Authors: Anna T. Ryan, Lay San Too and Marie M. Bismark

Effect of chiropractic treatment on primary or early secondary prevention: a systematic review with a pedagogic approach

The chiropractic vitalistic approach to the concept of ‘subluxation’ as a cause of disease lacks both biological plausibility and possibly proof of validity. Nonetheless, some chiropractors purport to prevent ...

Authors: Guillaume Goncalves, Christine Le Scanff and Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde

How frequent are non-evidence-based health care beliefs in chiropractic students and do they vary across the pre-professional educational years

Evidence suggests that a students’ beliefs already prior to entering a program may be important as a determinant in sustaining unsuitable health care beliefs. Our objectives were to investigate the proportion ...

Authors: Stanley I. Innes, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Bruce F. Walker

Outcomes indicators and a risk classification system for spinal manipulation under anesthesia: a narrative review and proposal

Over a period of decades chiropractors have utilized spinal manipulation under anesthesia (SMUA) to treat chronic back and neck pain. As an advanced form of manual therapy, SMUA is reserved for the patient who...

Authors: Dennis DiGiorgi, John L. Cerf and Daniel S. Bowerman

A Mokken scale analysis of the peer physical examination questionnaire

Peer physical examination (PPE) is a teaching and learning strategy utilised in most health profession education programs. Perceptions of participating in PPE have been described in the literature, focusing on...

Authors: Brett Vaughan and Sandra Grace

The use of nutritional guidance within chiropractic patient management: a survey of 333 chiropractors from the ACORN practice-based research network

Food consumption and nutritional status affect an individual’s health throughout their life-course and an unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for the current global burden of chronic disease. The promotion o...

Authors: Mi Kyung Lee, Lyndon Amorin-Woods, Vincenzo Cascioli and Jon Adams

Work-related acute physical injuries, chronic overuse complaints, and the psychosocial work environment in Danish primary care chiropractic practice – a cross-sectional study

Little is known about the physical and psychosocial work environment of chiropractors and their work-related health complaints, and this has never been described for Danish chiropractors. The aim of this study...

Authors: Mille Charlotte Hansen, Tine Aagaard, Henrik Wulff Christensen and Jan Hartvigsen

Leadership and capacity building in international chiropractic research: introducing the chiropractic academy for research leadership (CARL)

In an evidence-based health care environment, healthcare professions require a sustainable research culture to remain relevant. At present however, there is not a mature research culture across the chiropracti...

Authors: Jon Adams, Greg Kawchuk, Alexander Breen, Diana De Carvalho, Andreas Eklund, Matthew Fernandez, Martha Funabashi, Michelle M. Holmes, Melker S. Johansson, Katie de Luca, Craig Moore, Isabelle Pagé, Katherine A. Pohlman, Michael S. Swain, Arnold Y. L. Wong and Jan Hartvigsen

Chiropractic student choices in relation to indications, non-indications and contra-indications of continued care

The quality of health care provider clinical decisions has long been recognized as variable. Research has focused on clinical decision making with the aim of improving patient outcomes. No studies have looked ...

Authors: Stanley I. Innes, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Bruce F. Walker

The schism in chiropractic through the eyes of a 1st year chiropractic student

Since its inception, the chiropractic profession has been divided along ideological fault lines. These divisions have led to a profession wide schism, which has limited mainstream acceptance, utilisation, soci...

Authors: Bob Strahinjevich and J. Keith Simpson

Failure to define low back pain as a disease or an episode renders research on causality unsuitable: results of a systematic review

Causative factors may be different for the very first onset of symptoms of the ‘disease’ of low back pain (LBP) than for ensuing episodes that occur after a pain-free period. This differentiation hinges on a l...

Authors: Emad M. Ardakani, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Bruce F. Walker

Research priorities of the Canadian chiropractic profession: a consensus study using a modified Delphi technique

Research funds are limited and a healthcare profession that supports research activity should establish research priority areas. The study objective was to identify research priority areas for the Canadian chi...

Authors: Simon D. French, Peter J. H. Beliveau, Paul Bruno, Steven R. Passmore, Jill A. Hayden, John Srbely and Greg N. Kawchuk

What are the risks of manual treatment of the spine? A scoping review for clinicians

Communicating to patients the risks of manual treatment to the spine is an important, but challenging element of informed consent. This scoping review aimed to characterise and summarise the available literatu...

Authors: Gabrielle Swait and Rob Finch

ECU convention 2017 research presentations

Authors: Alice Kongsted, Lise Hestbaek, Carlo Ammendolia, Pierre Côté, Danielle Southerst, Michael Schneider, Brian Budgell, Claire Bombardier, Gillian Hawker, Y. Raja Rampersaud, Corinne Minder, Cynthia Peterson, B. Kim Humphreys, Halldór Fannar Gíslason, Jari Kullervo Salminen, Linn Sandhaugen…

Effect of spinal manipulative treatment on cardiovascular autonomic control in patients with acute low back pain

This study aimed to quantify the effect of spinal manipulative treatment (SMT) from an analysis of baroreflex, systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) on patients with acute back pain. It was ...

Authors: Mohamed Younes, Karine Nowakowski, Benoit Didier-Laurent, Michel Gombert and François Cottin

Influence of perceived difficulty of cases on student osteopaths’ diagnostic reasoning: a cross sectional study

Diagnostic reasoning refers to the cognitive processes by which clinicians formulate diagnoses. Despite the implications for patient safety and professional identity, research on diagnostic reasoning in osteop...

Authors: Aurelien L. Noyer, Jorge E. Esteves and Oliver P. Thomson

The chiropractic profession: a scoping review of utilization rates, reasons for seeking care, patient profiles, and care provided

Previous research has investigated utilization rates, who sees chiropractors, for what reasons, and the type of care that chiropractors provide. However, these studies have not been comprehensively synthesized...

Authors: Peter J. H. Beliveau, Jessica J. Wong, Deborah A. Sutton, Nir Ben Simon, André E. Bussières, Silvano A. Mior and Simon D. French

A protocol for clinical trial study of the effect of core stabilization exercises on spine kinematics during gait with and without load in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain

Non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) is a major public health and global socioeconomic burden with a variety of symptoms such as gait abnormality. Trunk stiffness and deep trunk muscles dysfunction known...

Authors: Rasool Bagheri, Ismail Ebrahimi Takamjani, Mahdi Dadgoo, Javad Sarrafzadeh, Amir Ahmadi, Mohammad Reza Pourahmadi and Amir-Salar Jafarpisheh

Correction to: Comparison of treatment outcomes in neck pain patients depending on the sex of the chiropractor: a prospective outcome study

After publication of the original article [1] the authors noted that the presentation of the name B. Kim Humphreys was incorrect.

Authors: Janine Thöni, Cynthia K. Peterson and B. Kim Humphreys

What is chiropractic?

While in some jurisdictions chiropractic is fully integrated in public and insurance funded health care systems, in others it is outside and considered as complementary or alternative health care. There is a p...

Authors: Jan Hartvigsen and Simon French

Knowledge, attitude, influences and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among chiropractic and nursing students

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming more widely used in the community however there are differences in knowledge and attitudes among and within the various health professions. Chiropractic...

Authors: Bruce F. Walker, Anthony Armson, Christopher Hodgetts, Angela Jacques, Fu En Chin, Garret Kow, Hyung Jin Lee, Mui Kee Wong and Anthony Wright

Using 4+ to grade near-normal muscle strength does not improve agreement

Manual assessment of muscle strength is often graded using the ordinal Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. The scale has a number of inherent weaknesses, including poorly defined limits between grades ‘4’ an...

Authors: Søren O’Neill, Sofie Louise Thomsen Jaszczak, Anne Katrine Søndergaard Steffensen and Birgit Debrabant

Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care

There is limited literature that explores the experiences of osteopaths injured while engaging in clinical practice. Evidence from other similar health professions has described the numerous effects of work-re...

Authors: Gopi Anne McLeod, Katerina Annels, Jessica Cohen, Samuel Edwards, Daniel Hodgins and Brett Vaughan

Appeal to fear in health care: appropriate or inappropriate?

This paper examines appeal to fear in general: its perceived positive aspects, its negative characteristics, its appropriate as well as its fallacious use.

Authors: J. Keith Simpson