Articles

Australian chiropractic sports medicine: half way there or living on a prayer?

Sports chiropractic within Australia has a chequered historical background of unorthodox individualistic displays of egocentric treatment approaches that emphasise specific technique preference and individual ...

Authors: Henry Pollard, Wayne Hoskins, Andrew McHardy, Rod Bonello, Peter Garbutt, Mike Swain, George Dragasevic, Mario Pribicevic and Andrew Vitiello

Xiphodynia: A diagnostic conundrum

This paper presents 3 case reports of xiphodynia that presented to a chiropractic clinic. The paper examines aspects of xiphodynia including relevant anatomy of the xiphoid, as well as the incidence, aetiology...

Authors: J Keith Simpson and Erin Hawken

The use of chiropractors by older adults in the United States

In a nationally representative sample of United States Medicare beneficiaries, we examined the extent of chiropractic use, factors associated with seeing a chiropractor, and predictors of the volume of chiropr...

Authors: Fredric D Wolinsky, Li Liu, Thomas R Miller, John F Geweke, Elizabeth A Cook, Barry R Greene, Kara B Wright, Elizabeth A Chrischilles, Claire E Pavlik, Hyonggin An, Robert L Ohsfeldt, Kelly K Richardson, Gary E Rosenthal and Robert B Wallace

Disentangling manual muscle testing and Applied Kinesiology: critique and reinterpretation of a literature review

Cuthbert and Goodheart recently published a narrative review on the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing (MMT) in the Journal. The authors should be recognized for their effort to synthesize this ...

Authors: Mitchell Haas, Robert Cooperstein and David Peterson

A case report of a patient with upper extremity symptoms: differentiating radicular and referred pain

Similar upper extremity symptoms can present with varied physiologic etiologies. However, due to the multifaceted nature of musculoskeletal conditions, a definitive diagnosis using physical examination and adv...

Authors: Clifford W Daub

The effectiveness of ENAR^®for the treatment of chronic neck pain in Australian adults: a preliminary single-blind, randomised controlled trial

Current evidence on electrotherapies for the management of chronic neck pain is either lacking or conflicting. New therapeutic devices being introduced to the market should be investigated for their effectiven...

Authors: Andrew L Vitiello, Rodney Bonello and Henry Pollard

Assessment and risk reduction of infectious pathogens on chiropractic treatment tables

To investigate the presence of pathogenic microbes on chiropractic treatment tables in one outpatient teaching clinic. Additional aims were to test inexpensive disinfectants on tables that may kill microbes an...

Authors: Marion Willard Evans Jr, Jennell Breshears, Alan Campbell, Chris Husbands and Ronald Rupert

Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media?

Traction therapy has been utilized in the treatment of low back pain for decades. The most recent incarnation of traction therapy is non-surgical spinal decompression therapy which can cost over $100,000. This...

Authors: Dwain M Daniel

A survey of chiropractors practicing in Germany: practice characteristics, professional reading habits, and attitudes and perceptions toward research

In 2004, a survey conducted by the European Chiropractor's Union among member countries reported that "there appears to be little interest in research among chiropractors in Germany." However, no research has ...

Authors: Ilke Schwarz and Maria A Hondras

Psychosocial factors and their predictive value in chiropractic patients with low back pain: a prospective inception cohort study

Being able to estimate the likelihood of poor recovery from episodes of back pain is important for care. Studies of psychosocial factors in inception cohorts in general practice and occupational populations ha...

Authors: Jennifer M Langworthy and Alan C Breen

On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review

Authors: Scott C Cuthbert and George J Goodheart Jr

Mathematical modeling of the socalled Allis test: a field study in orthopedic confusion

Chiropractors use a variety of supine and prone leg checking procedures. Some, including the Allis test, purport to distinguish anatomic from functional leg length inequality. Although the reliability and to a...

Authors: Robert Cooperstein, Michael Haneline and Morgan Young

Chiropractic and CAM Utilization: A Descriptive Review

To conduct a descriptive review of the scientific literature examining use rates of modalities and procedures used by CAM clinicians to manage chronic LBP and other conditions

Authors: Dana J Lawrence and William C Meeker

Postural development in school children: a cross-sectional study

Little information on quantitative sagittal plane postural alignment and evolution in children exists. The objectives of this study are to document the evolution of upright, static, sagittal posture in childre...

Authors: Danik Lafond, Martin Descarreaux, Martin C Normand and Deed E Harrison

Do chiropractic college faculty understand informed consent: a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to survey full-time faculty at a single chiropractic college concerning their knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies in their institution as they pertain to educat...

Authors: Dana J Lawrence and Maria A Hondras

Accuracy of spinal orthopaedic tests: a systematic review

The purpose of this systematic review was to critically appraise the literature on the accuracy of orthopaedic tests for the spine.

Authors: Rob Simpson and Hugh Gemmell

The organisation of the stress response, and its relevance to chiropractors: a commentary

The stress response is a natural reaction by the body, against potentially harmful stimuli to enhance the chance for survival. Persistent activation of the stress response can cause changes to homeostatic mech...

Authors: Katie Hardy and Henry Pollard

An educational campaign to increase chiropractic intern advising roles on patient smoking cessation

Tobacco use, particularly smoking, is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. More than 400,000 premature deaths are associated with its use and the health care costs are in the billions. All...

Authors: Marion W Evans Jr, Cheryl Hawk and Sheryl M Strasser

The Council on Chiropractic Education's New Wellness Standard: A call to action for the chiropractic profession

The chiropractic profession has long considered itself to be a preventive science. Recently the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) has defined a set of standards that must be implemented at all US chiropr...

Authors: Marion W Evans Jr and Ronald Rupert

Case report of right hamate hook fracture in a patient with previous fracture history of left hamate hook: is it hamate bipartite?

Hamate hook fracture is a common fracture in golfers and others who play sports that involve rackets or sticks such as tennis or hockey. This patient had a previous hamate fracture in the opposing wrist along ...

Authors: Marion W Evans Jr, Micheal L Gilbert and Sandra Norton

Segment-specific association between cervical pillar hyperplasia (CPH) and degenerative joint disease (DJD)

Cervical pillar hyperplasia (CPH) is a recently described phenomenon of unknown etiology and clinical significance. Global assessment of pillar hyperplasia of the cervical spine as a unit has not shown a relat...

Authors: Maja Stupar and Cynthia K Peterson

Improvement of lower extremity electrodiagnostic findings following a trial of spinal manipulation and motion-based therapy

Lumbar disc herniation is a problem frequently encountered in manual medicine. While manual therapy has shown reasonable success in symptomatic management of these cases, little information is known how manual...

Authors: Mark W Morningstar

Amount of health care and self-care following a randomized clinical trial comparing flexion-distraction with exercise program for chronic low back pain

Previous clinical trials have assessed the percentage of participants who utilized further health care after a period of conservative care for low back pain, however no chiropractic clinical trial has determin...

Authors: Jerrilyn A Cambron, M Ram Gudavalli, Marion McGregor, James Jedlicka, Michael Keenum, Alexander J Ghanayem, Avinash G Patwardhan and Sylvia E Furner

Effectiveness of an evidence-based chiropractic continuing education workshop on participant knowledge of evidence-based health care

Chiropractors must continue to learn, develop themselves professionally throughout their careers, and become self-directed and lifelong learners. Using an evidence-based approach increases the probability of o...

Authors: Ronald J Feise, Jaroslaw P Grod and Anne Taylor-Vaisey

Physical injury assessment of male versus female chiropractic students when learning and performing various adjustive techniques: a preliminary investigative study

Reports of musculoskeletal injuries that some chiropractic students experienced while in the role of adjustor became increasingly evident and developed into the basis of this study. The main objective of this ...

Authors: Debra W Bisiacchi and Laura L Huber

Inappropriate use of the title 'chiropractor' and term 'chiropractic manipulation' in the peer-reviewed biomedical literature

The misuse of the title 'chiropractor' and term 'chiropractic manipulation', in relation to injury associated with cervical spine manipulation, have previously been reported in the peer-reviewed literature.

Authors: Adrian B Wenban

Chiropractic manipulation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: a pilot study

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains the most common deforming orthopedic condition in children. Increasingly, both adults and children are seeking complementary and alternative therapy, including chi...

Authors: Dale E Rowe, Ronald J Feise, Edward R Crowther, Jaroslaw P Grod, J Michael Menke, Charles H Goldsmith, Michael R Stoline, Thomas A Souza and Brandon Kambach

Review conclusions by Ernst and Canter regarding spinal manipulation refuted

In the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Royal Society of Medicine, Ernst and Canter authored a review of the most recent systematic reviews on the effectiveness of spinal manipulation for any condition. The ...

Authors: Gert Bronfort, Mitchell Haas, David Moher, Lex Bouter, Maurits van Tulder, John Triano, Willem JJ Assendelft, Roni Evans, Simon Dagenais and Anthony Rosner

Journal publications by Australian chiropractic academics: are they enough?

To document the number of journal publications attributed to the academic faculty of Australian chiropractic tertiary institutions. To provide a discussion of the significance of this output and to relate this...

Authors: Wayne Hoskins, Henry Pollard, John Reggars, Andrew Vitiello and Rod Bonello

Intra-professional and inter-professional referral patterns of chiropractors

With the increasing popularity of chiropractic care in the United States, inter-professional relationships between conventional trained physicians (MDs and DOs) and chiropractors (DCs) will have an expanding i...

Authors: Monica Smith, Barry R Greene, Mitchell Haas and Veerasathpurush Allareddy

Use of conventional and alternative treatment strategies for a case of low back pain in a F/A-18 aviator

Low back pain can diminish jet pilot concentration and function during flight and be severe enough to ground pilots or cause decreased flying time. The objective of this case report is to present an example of...

Authors: Bart N Green, John Sims and Rachel Allen

Cranial osteopathy: its fate seems clear

According to the original model of cranial osteopathy, intrinsic rhythmic movements of the human brain cause rhythmic fluctuations of cerebrospinal fluid and specific relational changes among dural membranes, ...

Authors: Steve E Hartman

Introduction of a pyramid guiding process for general musculoskeletal physical rehabilitation

Successful instruction of a complicated subject as Physical Rehabilitation demands organization. To understand principles and processes of such a field demands a hierarchy of steps to achieve the intended outc...

Authors: Timothy W Stark

The appropriate use of radiography in clinical practice: a report of two cases of biomechanical versus malignant spine pain

To describe the evaluation, treatment, management and referral of two patients with back pain with an eventual malignant etiology, who were first thought to have a non-organic biomechanical disorder.

Authors: Roger Kevin Pringle and Lawrence H Wyatt

Comparative effectiveness of manipulation, mobilisation and the Activator instrument in treatment of non-specific neck pain: a systematic review

Neck pain is a common problem and different forms of manual therapy are used in its treatment. The purpose of this systematic review was to critically appraise the literature that directly compared manipulatio...

Authors: Hugh Gemmell and Peter Miller

Increased multiaxial lumbar motion responses during multiple-impulse mechanical force manually assisted spinal manipulation

Spinal manipulation has been found to create demonstrable segmental and intersegmental spinal motions thought to be biomechanically related to its mechanisms. In the case of impulsive-type instrument device co...

Authors: Tony S Keller, Christopher J Colloca, Robert J Moore, Robert Gunzburg and Deed E Harrison

Head repositioning errors in normal student volunteers: a possible tool to assess the neck's neuromuscular system

A challenge for practitioners using spinal manipulation is identifying when an intervention is required. It has been recognized that joint pain can interfere with the ability to position body parts accurately ...

Authors: Edward F Owens Jr, Charles NR Henderson, M Ram Gudavalli and Joel G Pickar

Trunk and hip muscle recruitment patterns during the prone leg extension following a lateral ankle sprain: A prospective case study pre and post injury

The prone leg extension (PLE) is commonly used to identify dysfunction of muscle recruitment patterns. The prone leg extension is theorized to identify proximal muscle disturbances which are a result of distal...

Authors: Gregory J Lehman

Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older

Falls are a major health concern for older adults and their impact is a significant public health problem. The chief modifiable risk factors for falls in community-dwellers are psychotropic drugs, polypharmacy...

Authors: Cheryl Hawk, John K Hyland, Ronald Rupert, Makasha Colonvega and Stephanie Hall

Improvement in hearing after chiropractic care: a case series

The first chiropractic adjustment given in 1895 was reported to have cured deafness. This study examined the effects of a single, initial chiropractic visit on the central nervous system by documenting clinica...

Authors: Joseph O Di Duro

Scoliosis treatment using spinal manipulation and the Pettibon Weighting System™: a summary of 3 atypical presentations

Given the relative lack of treatment options for mild to moderate scoliosis, when the Cobb angle measurements fall below the 25–30° range, conservative manual therapies for scoliosis treatment have been increa...

Authors: Mark W Morningstar and Timothy Joy

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis screening for school, community, and clinical health promotion practice utilizing the PRECEDE-PROCEED model

Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a commonly performed procedure for school children during the high risk years. The PRECEDE-PROCEDE (PP) model is a health promotion planning model that ha...

Authors: Timothy A Mirtz, Mark A Thompson, Leon Greene, Lawrence A Wyatt and Cynthia G Akagi

A Chiropracticness Test

There is little homogeneity of opinion in the chiropractic profession about its essence and identity. Matters compromising the establishment of a coherent identity include the issue of vertebral subluxation, p...

Authors: Keith H Charlton

Influence of static lumbar flexion on the trunk muscles' response to sudden arm movements

Viscoelastic creep of lumbar ligaments (prolonged forward bend) has been shown to negatively influence the spine's muscular reflexive behaviour and spinal stability. No studies to date have investigated the in...

Authors: Gregory J Lehman, Stephen Story and Robert Mabee

An online survey of chiropractors' opinions of continuing education

Continuing Education (CE) for chiropractors is mandatory for licensure in most North American jurisdictions. Numerous chiropractic colleges have begun collaborating with universities to offer master's degree p...

Authors: Kent J Stuber, Jaroslaw P Grod, Dean L Smith and Paul Powers

Low back pain risk factors in a large rural Australian Aboriginal community. An opportunity for managing co-morbidities?

Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent musculo-skeletal condition in rural and remote Australian Aboriginal communities. Smoking, physical inactivity and obesity are also prevalent amongst Indigenous people...

Authors: Dein Vindigni, Bruce F Walker, Jennifer R Jamison, Cliff Da Costa, Lynne Parkinson and Steve Blunden

A multi-modal treatment approach for the shoulder: A 4 patient case series

This paper describes the clinical management of four cases of shoulder impingement syndrome using a conservative multimodal treatment approach.

Authors: Mario Pribicevic and Henry Pollard

Fostering critical thinking skills: a strategy for enhancing evidence based wellness care

Chiropractic has traditionally regarded itself a wellness profession. As wellness care is postulated to play a central role in the future growth of chiropractic, the development of a wellness ethos acceptable ...

Authors: Jennifer R Jamison

Management of chest pain: exploring the views and experiences of chiropractors and medical practitioners in a focus group interview

We report on a multidisciplinary focus group project related to the appropriate care of chiropractic patients who present with chest pain. The prevalence and clinical management, both diagnosis and treatment, ...

Authors: Monica Smith, Dana J Lawrence and Robert M Rowell

Subluxation: dogma or science?

Subluxation syndrome is a legitimate, potentially testable, theoretical construct for which there is little experimental evidence. Acceptable as hypothesis, the widespread assertion of the clinical meaningfuln...

Authors: Joseph C Keating Jr, Keith H Charlton, Jaroslaw P Grod, Stephen M Perle, David Sikorski and James F Winterstein