My Patient Has Recurrent Knee
Pain—How Can I Prevent Future
Episodes?
AUTHORS: Michael Tunning, D.C., A.T.C., and
Robert Vining, D.C.
The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
conducts studies at facilities on each Palmer
campus, including the William and Jo Harris
Building on the Davenport Campus. |
A 24-year-old female has decided to once again join her
friends and run a half marathon in a fundraising event. She
restarted a running program and is experiencing a dull ache
at the anterior knee. She has sought care periodically for
the same symptoms during the past few years. Her pain
has progressed in the past week to bother her mildly while
walking up the stairs to her office. She has also noticed
mild stiffness while walking at the end of the day. She
doesn’t want to stop training because she fears she will
lose ground with her exercise program. She doesn’t feel that
the pain is too debilitating yet, and is seeking your advice
and care. She asks if she can incorporate into her program
therapeutic exercise aimed at reducing pain and preventing
her condition from worsening. In this article, Drs. Tunning
and Vining review a research article to determine its
applicability in developing a treatment plan for this patient.
The entire article can be found at: JACA Online (April 2011;
48(3):15-18). This article is one in the recurring column
written by Palmer College faculty titled “Evidence in Action.”
Integration of Evidence-Based
Clinical Practice into a Basic
Science Course
AUTHOR: Lia Nightingale, Ph.D.
Introduction: Evidence-based clinical practice (EBCP) has
permeated every healthcare profession, including chiropractic.
The focus of this project was to incorporate EBCP concepts
into a first trimester nutritional biochemistry course at a
chiropractic institution. Course learning outcomes were
changed to integrate EBCP concepts, including interpretation
of relative risk, absolute risk, odds ratios, and number needed
to treat. Methods: Four complete lectures were developed to
teach EBCP concepts and its functionality in a chiropractic
practice. Several new slides were added to each previously
taught lecture to illustrate the importance of EBCP throughout
the course. Quiz and exam questions were written to reflect
the new material, and an assignment was developed to guide
students in the process of using evidence in practice via the
four A’s (ask, acquire, appraise, and apply). Results: Initial
examination illustrated improved student performance on
exam questions and written papers, but further assessment
is required.
The complete abstract and other evidence-based clinical practice
abstracts can be found in The Journal of Chiropractic
Education Spring 2011;25(1).