Articles

The profile of chiropractors managing patients with low back-related leg pain: analyses of 1907 chiropractors from the ACORN practice-based research network

Approximately 60% of people with low back pain also have associated leg pain symptoms. Guidelines for low back pain recommend non-pharmacological approaches, including spinal manipulation - a therapy provided ...

Authors: Matthew Fernandez, Craig Moore, Wenbo Peng, Katie de Luca, Katherine A. Pohlman, Michael Swain and Jon Adams

The shape of chiropractic in Europe: a cross sectional survey of chiropractor’s beliefs and practice

The chiropractic profession both in the past and presently has diverse opinions concerning different health care approaches and the science or otherwise that underpins them. Previous research has reported that...

Authors: Halldór Fannar Gíslason, Jari Kullervo Salminen, Linn Sandhaugen, Andreas Stenseth Storbråten, Renske Versloot, Inger Roug and Dave Newell

Attempting to explore chiropractors and their clinical choices: an examination of a failed study

Recent studies have shown that psychological factors, attitudes and beliefs impact on the quality of chiropractic student clinical decisions. This association has not been studied among qualified chiropractors...

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

Manual therapy for chronic migraine: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial study protocol

Chronic migraine is a largely refractory condition affecting between 1 and 2.2% of the overall population worldwide, with females more affected than males. There are also high health and socioeconomic costs as...

Authors: Jim Odell, Carol Clark, Adrian Hunnisett, Osman Hassan Ahmed and Jonathan Branney

The natural course of low back pain from childhood to young adulthood – a systematic review

Taking the natural course of recurrent and fluctuating low back pain (LBP) seen in longitudinal studies of adults into consideration, the aetiology and development of LBP in children and adolescents also needs...

Authors: Tina Junge, Niels Wedderkopp, Eleanor Boyle and Per Kjaer

The epidemiology of work-related musculoskeletal injuries among chiropractors in the eThekwini municipality

Chiropractors are a unique group of health care professionals who are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Diversity of daily practice imposes different physical demands on the chiropr...

Authors: Almay Lamprecht and Keseri Padayachy

Fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with a high fat content in the erector spinae: a 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance imaging study

Intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is a feature of degenerative muscle composition and is a common feature in populations with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Avoidance behavior is a possible cause of morpholog...

Authors: Eddo Wesselink, Edwin de Raaij, Philip Pevenage, Nick van der Kaay and Jan Pool

The acute effects of joint manipulative techniques on markers of autonomic nervous system activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) interests many chiropractors and manual therapists, because joint manipulative techniques (JMT), e.g. high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) manipulations and mobilizations, appe...

Authors: Mathieu Picchiottino, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde, Olivier Gagey and David M. Hallman

Prevalence of MRI findings in the cervical spine in patients with persistent neck pain based on quantification of narrative MRI reports

Previous studies of patients with neck pain have reported a high variability in prevalence of MRI findings of disc degeneration, disc herniation etc. This is most likely due to small and heterogenous study pop...

Authors: Rikke Krüger Jensen, Tue Secher Jensen, Søren Grøn, Erik Frafjord, Uffe Bundgaard, Anders Lynge Damsgaard, Jeppe Mølgaard Mathiasen and Per Kjaer

Contrasting real time quantitative measures (weekly SMS) to patients’ retrospective appraisal of their one-year’s course of low back pain; a probing mixed-methods study

Due to the recurrent nature of low back pain (LBP), the traditional concepts of cure and recovery are challenged, and investigating the course rather than status at fixed time-points may help us understand pro...

Authors: Lise Hestbaek, Cornelius Myburgh, Henrik Hein Lauridsen, Eleanor Boyle and Alice Kongsted

Chiropractic, one big unhappy family: better together or apart?

The chiropractic profession has a long history of internal conflict. Today, the division is between the ‘evidence-friendly’ faction that focuses on musculoskeletal problems based on a contemporary and evidence...

Authors: Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde, Stanley I. Innes, Kenneth J. Young, Gregory Neil Kawchuk and Jan Hartvigsen

Chiropractic conservatism and the ability to determine contra-indications, non-indications, and indications to chiropractic care: a cross-sectional survey of chiropractic students

While there is a broad spectrum of practice within chiropractic two sub-types can be identified, those who focus on musculoskeletal problems and those who treat also non-musculoskeletal problems. The latter gr...

Authors: Guillaume Goncalves, Marine Demortier, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde and Niels Wedderkopp

Exploratory study for clinical signs of MODIC changes in patients with low-back pain in the Netherlands armed forces

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being used extensively in the search for pathoanatomical factors contributing to low back pain (LBP) such as Modic changes (MC). However, it remains unclear whether clinical...

Authors: Peter van der Wurff, Tom Vredeveld, Caroline van de Graaf, Rikke K. Jensen and Tue S. Jensen

Multisite joint pain in older Australian women is associated with poorer psychosocial health and greater medication use

Musculoskeletal pain frequently occurs in more than one body region, with up to 80% of adults reporting more than one joint pain site in the last 12 months. Older people and females are known to be more suscep...

Authors: Katie de Luca, Arnold Wong, Andreas Eklund, Matthew Fernandez, Julie Ellen Byles, Lynne Parkinson, Manuela Loureiro Ferreira and Jan Hartvigsen

An observational study on trajectories and outcomes of chronic low back pain patients referred from a spine surgery division for chiropractic treatment

A close collaboration between surgeons and non-surgical spine experts is crucial for optimal care of low back pain (LBP) patients. The affiliation of a chiropractic teaching clinic to a university hospital wit...

Authors: Brigitte Wirth, Fabienne Riner, Cynthia Peterson, Barry Kim Humphreys, Mazda Farshad, Susanne Becker and Petra Schweinhardt

Manipulation-induced hypoalgesia in musculoskeletal pain populations: a systematic critical review and meta-analysis

Manipulation-induced hypoalgesia (MIH) represents reduced pain sensitivity following joint manipulation, and has been documented in various populations. It is unknown, however, whether MIH following high-veloc...

Authors: Sasha L. Aspinall, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde, Sarah J. Etherington and Bruce F. Walker

Experimental assessment of cervical ranges of motion and compensatory strategies

Literature is still limited regarding reports of non-invasive assessment of the cervical range of motion in normal subjects. Investigations into compensatory motions, defined as the contribution of an addition...

Authors: Céline Niewiadomski, Rohan-Jean Bianco, Sanae Afquir, Morgane Evin and Pierre-Jean Arnoux

Measuring biopsychosocial risk for back pain disability in chiropractic patients using the STarT back screening tool: a cross-sectional survey

The Keele STarT Back Screening Tool (SBT), a 9-item questionnaire, screens for pain, physical functioning, fear-avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, anxious thoughts, low mood, and bothersomeness in persons wit...

Authors: Yasmeen Khan, Dana Lawrence, Robert Vining and Dustin Derby

Managing sickness absence of patients with musculoskeletal pain – a cross-sectional survey of Scandinavian chiropractors

Musculoskeletal pain is a major cause of work disability. Many patients with musculoskeletal pain seek care from health care providers other than their general practitioners, including a range of musculoskelet...

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

Chiropractors’ views on the use of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical practice: a qualitative study

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are widely available for use in musculoskeletal care. However, there is little research exploring the implementation of PROMs in clinical practice. This qualitative st...

Authors: Michelle M. Holmes, Felicity L. Bishop, David Newell, Jonathan Field and George Lewith

Are frequent measurements in back pain research harmful? Two comparisons of back pain in groups with or without frequent follow-up

Frequent measures are becoming increasingly used to evaluate the course of spinal pain. However, it is not known whether this type of continuous follow-up in itself has implications for people’s experience of ...

Authors: Lise Hestbaek, Annette Christina Saxtorph, Carl-Emil Krogsgaard-Jensen and Alice Kongsted

The interrater reliability of static palpation of the thoracic spine for eliciting tenderness and stiffness to test for a manipulable lesion

Despite widespread use by manual therapists, there is little evidence regarding the reliability of thoracic spine static palpation to test for a manipulable lesion using stiffness or tenderness as diagnostic m...

Authors: Amber M. Beynon, Jeffrey J. Hebert and Bruce F. Walker

Systems change to improve tobacco use identification and referral in the chiropractic setting: a pilot study

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Health professionals need to address the use of tobacco products by their patients, but chiropractic clinical systems often rem...

Authors: Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, Brody Maack, Mary Larson, Megan Orr, Donald R. Miller and Katelyn Mills

Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review

The use of routine spinal X-rays within chiropractic has a contentious history. Elements of the profession advocate for the need for routine spinal X-rays to improve patient management, whereas other chiroprac...

Authors: Hazel J Jenkins, Aron S Downie, Craig S Moore and Simon D French

Cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulation, exercise, and self-management for spinal pain using an individual participant data meta-analysis approach: a study protocol

Spinal pain is a common and disabling condition with considerable socioeconomic burden. Spine pain management in the United States has gathered increased scrutiny amidst concerns of overutilization of costly a...

Authors: Brent Leininger, Gert Bronfort, Roni Evans, James Hodges, Karen Kuntz and John A. Nyman

Test-retest reliability of nerve and muscle morphometric characteristics utilizing ultrasound imaging in individuals with unilateral sciatica and controls

Ultrasound imaging has been suggested for studying the structure and function of nerves and muscles; however, reliability studies are limited to support the usage. The main aim of this study was to explore the...

Authors: Hadi Sarafraz, Mohammad Reza Hadian, Niloofar Ayoobi Yazdi, Gholamreza Olyaei, Hossein Bagheri, Shohreh Jalaie and Omid Rasouli

Post-infectious ankylosis of the cervical spine in an army veteran: a case report

Vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare, life-threatening condition. Successful management is dependent on prompt diagnosis and management with intravenous antibiotic therapy or surgery in addition to antibiotics. R...

Authors: Zachary A. Cupler, Michael T. Anderson, Eric T. Stefanowicz and Chad D. Warshel

Effectiveness of interventions for treating apophysitis in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Overuse injuries are reported to be more common than acute trauma in children and adolescents, causing pain and reduced function. The most common is apophysitis - a traction injury to the apophysis in growing ...

Authors: Stig L. Midtiby, Niels Wedderkopp, Rasmus T. Larsen, Anne-Marie Fiala Carlsen, Dimitris Mavridis and Ian Shrier

Changes in pain knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of osteopathy students after completing a clinically focused pain education module

Chronic pain is a substantial burden on the Australian healthcare system with an estimated 19.2% of Australians experiencing chronic pain. Knowledge of the neurophysiology and multidimensional aspects of pain ...

Authors: Kylie Fitzgerald, Michael Fleischmann, Brett Vaughan, Kevin de Waal, Sarah Slater and John Harbis

Degenerative findings on MRI of the cervical spine: an inter- and intra-rater reliability study

Knowledge about the assessment reliability of common cervical spine changes is a prerequisite for precise and consistent communication about Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings. The purpose of this study...

Authors: Line Thorndal Moll, Morten Wasmod Kindt, Christina Malmose Stapelfeldt and Tue Secher Jensen

A preliminary investigation examining patient reported outcome measures for low back pain and utilisation amongst chiropractors in Australia: facilitators and barriers to clinical implementation

The current utilisation of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for low back pain (LBP) within the Australian Chiropractic profession is unknown. The aims of this study were to determine the current utili...

Authors: Natalie Clohesy and Anthony Schneiders

Spinal epidural lipomatosis presenting to a U.S. Veterans Affairs pain and rehabilitation department: a report of two cases

Spinal epidural lipomatosis is an uncommon source of neurogenic claudication. We present two cases of spinal epidural lipomatosis as it relates to diagnosis, management, and a possible association with common ...

Authors: Keith M. Silcox, Clinton J. Daniels, Glenn A. Bub, Pamela J. Wakefield and James D. Toombs

ECU convention 2018 congress proceedings

Authors:

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