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Hollstrom & Associates Inc Explains the Value of Chiropractic Research

Research makes the healthcare world go ‘round! Research solidifies the role of healthcare’s pain relieving ability. In chiropractic healthcare, much research entails documenting chiropractic’s benefit for painful musculoskeletal conditions like neck pain, back pain, arm pain and sciatic leg pain. Hollstrom & Associates Inc offers just such effective, research-documented care to our Largo chiropractic patients.

CHALLENGE: DO HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

A group of back pain researchers challenged fellow researchers to create long-term plans to decrease the problem of low back pain on patients and healthcare systems. They clarified that developing effective strategies continues to be a huge task for back pain clinicians, doctors, and researchers. Frustratingly, back pain disability levels have not improved despite an increased quantity of published research papers about back pain care. No consensus on the optimal way to manage low back pain has been agreed upon. Non-drug and non-invasive approaches like exercise, manual therapy, massage, and such are typical recommendations. Other reviewing researchers indicated a few problems with back pain research: design and analysis within the treatment clinical trials. (1) Designing research studies is difficult. Coming up with a “sham” protocol for spinal manipulation that seems like spinal manipulation is really challenging. (Just touching a spine can help some, but that is a topic for another discussion!) Observational studies are the next best thing. How so? Researchers observe what happens to patients when they experience treatment and note changes and effects. Fortunately, Cox® Technic research has a mix of biomechanical and clinical observational studies resulting in case reports, case series, as well as retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Hollstrom & Associates Inc feels this mix of research support helps explain to our Largo chiropractic patients what clinical outcome relief they may anticipate.

MINIMAL CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Sometimes, chiropractic physicians and low back pain patients alike are disappointed with the outcomes of treatment for back pain. They shouldn’t be! In medicine, the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is reported 30% or 20% and even 10% improvement. That is reported as an “effective” outcome. Cox® Technic has offered 50% improvement in 30 days as the goal…and still does. Often, chiropractic patients realize that 50% relief in less than 30 days and that the 50% relief is more like 70% or 80% or 90%! Sometimes, a patient’s response may be slower in getting relief or only reaches 30% or 40%. Some patients want more while others, particularly patients who have previously gone through back surgery or sought non-relieving care from many other providers, are thrilled. A study of 1232 low back pain subjects found a MCID pain intensity of 2 (meaning a 2 point move on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 worst imaginable pain). That’s not a big move but is realistic. (2) It’s a statistic to consider. Compared with medical and surgical outcomes for back pain treatment that are as low as 10% or 30% expected improvement MCID, our Largo chiropractic clinical outcome objectives are high and frequently achievable.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH – AND HOW CHIROPRACTIC ANSWERS

Chiropractic, like other complementary and integrative healthcare professions, has a little more difficulty in maintaining a flow of research as many programs are not in large university settings with well-established and well-funded research departments. Global chiropractic researchers are looking for a solution.  Australia, Canada, and Denmark chiropractic researchers have created a leadership academy (CARL – Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership) for early-career chiropractic researchers to stimulate more chiropractic research. US-based researchers are looking to the RAND Corporation’s Center for Collaborative CIH Research to combine research talent and resources to elevate chiropractic’s quality and quantity of research.  (3,4) Strong research carries on at chiropractic universities to record the benefits of chiropractic for musculoskeletal-related pain like back pain, neck pain, arm pain and leg pain.

CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc

Listen to this PODCAST with Ram Gudavalli, PhD, principal investigator of many Cox® Technic research studies, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes research studies of which he’s been a part.

Schedule your next Largo chiropractic appointment soon. Bring your questions about the research behind our chiropractic care with you! Hollstrom & Associates Inc is always ready to share research! 

 
Hollstrom & Associates Inc communicates the importance and value of chiropractic research in healthcare decision-making and relevance. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."