In February 2011, scientists at the Palmer Center for
Chiropractic Research (PCCR), the RAND Corporation
and the Samueli Institute were awarded a landmark $7.4
million grant by the Department of Defense (DOD). The
grant is funding a four-year research project to assess
chiropractic treatment for military readiness in active-duty
personnel. This is the largest single award for a chiropractic
research project in the history of the profession.
The PCCR will receive approximately $5.1 million to
design and implement the three clinical trials funded by
this award. Vice Chancellor for Research and Health
Policy Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D., is a co-principal
investigator of the project, and Katherine Pohlman, D.C.,
M.S., is the clinical projects manager. Dr. Pohlman
supervises all of the project managers for the three
clinical trials and handles the complex logistics and
day-to-day operations of the huge study. It is being
conducted by a team of 40 people at the three
institutions and a total of six military sites for all
of the trials.
The first clinical trial, known as Assessment of Chiropractic
Treatment I, or ACT I, will examine chiropractic’s
effectiveness in relieving low back pain and improving
functions in active-duty service members at military
facilities located in Pensacola, Fla., Bethesda, Md.,
Rock Island, Ill., and San Diego, Calif. The Cooperative
Agreement between all sites and investigative institutes
has been officially signed and final Institutional Review
Board (IRB) approval received. Participant recruitment and
data collection began at San Diego on Sept. 11, 2012, and at
Pensacola on Oct. 2. At press time, participant recruitment
and data collection were expected to start in November at
Bethesda. This phase is expected to take two years at each site.
Assessment of Chiropractic Treatment II, or ACT II, will
compare differences in reflexes and reaction time before
and after chiropractic care in members of Special Operations
forces. The study design has been finalized, and IRB approvals
are anticipated by the end of 2012. Recruitment and data
collection is expected to begin in May 2014 and to take 18
months at each site.
The third clinical trial, Assessment of Chiropractic Treatment
III, or ACT III, will assess military readiness by evaluating
differences in strength, balance and recurrences following
chiropractic treatment in service members that are deployment
ready. The study design has been finalized, and IRB
approvals are anticipated by the end of 2012. Recruitment
and data collection is expected to begin in March 2013
and to take 18 months at each site.