The Efficacy of Manual
and Manipulative Therapy
for Low Back Pain in
Military Active Duty
Personnel: A Feasibility Study
AUTHORS: William Meeker, D.C., M.P.H.; Lt. Col. Richard Petri, M.D.;
Dana Lawrence, D.C.; Edward Owens, D.C., M.S.; Cyndy Long, Ph.D.
Back pain is a large and important problem in the military, and
chiropractic care has not yet been studied for inclusion in military
treatment algorithms. The aims of this project are to evaluate
the ability of the addition of chiropractic care to standard military
medical care to decrease pain and increase function for military
personnel on active duty with acute and subacute back pain, and
to determine the feasibility of conducting further clinical research
on chiropractic topics in military settings. This study is funded
by the Samueli Foundation for Information Biology.
Validity of Manual Palpation
for Intervertebral Rotational
Malposition
AUTHORS: Robert Cooperstein, D.C., M.A.; Michael Haneline, D.C., M.P.H.
The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that the manual
palpatory technique used in many teaching clinics for the determination
of intervertebral rotational malposition is accurate as
compared with the gold standard of X-ray evaluation. The exact
location and line of drive for spinal adjustments is often determined
by palpation, but it is unknown if there is a strong correlation
between palpatory findings and anatomical determinations of
vertebral position based on X-rays. This study is funded internally.
Changes in Paraspinal Muscle
Spindle Sensitivity
AUTHORS: Joel Pickar, D.C., Ph.D.; Edward Owens, D.C., M.S.;
Charles Henderson, D.C., Ph.D.; Ram Gudavalli, Ph.D.
It appears from other studies that the position history of muscle
and joint tissues may affect the accuracy of the segmental motor
control systems in the spine. The objective of this study is to
acquire data that may provide a rationale for examining proprioceptive
mechanisms in a patient population and determine if the
mechanical history of cervical paraspinal muscles affects an individual’s
ability to re-position his/her head. This study is funded
by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Effect of Vertebral Loading
on Facet Joint Capsule
AUTHORS: Joel Pickar, D.C., Ph.D.; Partap Khalsa, D.C., Ph.D.,
Cyndy Long, Ph.D.
The long-term goal is to understand the functional interactions
between spinal biomechanics and the nervous system, and to
provide important and useful information regarding the mechanisms
by which spine disorders affect the nervous system for
conditions amenable to treatment by spinal manipulation and
adjustments. The short-range goal is to develop a mathematical
model of the effects of manipulation on sensory neurons innervating
facet capsule tissues.
The William and Jo Harris Building on
Palmer’s Davenport campus houses the
Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research. |