Robert Vining, D.C., D.H.Sc.

Translating evidence to support clinical decision-making; low back pain diagnosis; quality measures for chiropractic care; evidence-informed teaching and learning. care.

Research Keywords

Musculoskeletal diagnosis and classification; low back pain; quality indicators and measures; clinical decision support; evidence-based and evidence-informed practice.

• D.H.Sc. — Jefferson College of Health Sciences (now Radford University)
• D.C. — Logan College of Chiropractic
• B.S. — Logan College of Chiropractic

Certifications: Civil Rights, Title IX Investigator, Palmer College of Chiropractic

• Implementing a Clinical Decision Support for Low Back Pain in Clinical Care (Co-Principal Investigator)
• Developing Quality Measures for Chiropractic (Principal Investigator)
• VERDICT — Chiropractic Care for Veterans (Co-Investigator)
• Thoracolumbar Fascia Mobility (TLFM) (Principal Investigator)

• Developing a Clinical Decision Support for Low Back Pain (research program; Co-Principal Investigator).
• Quality Measures for Chiropractic (research program; Principal Investigator). Project 1, Developing Preliminary Quality Measures for Chiropractic Care (2024); Project 2, Validating Quality Measures — A Consensus Study (2025); Project 3, Assessing the Importance and Feasibility of Quality Measures — A National Survey of U.S. Chiropractors (2026); Project 4, Developing Patient Experience Measures for Chiropractic Care — A Scoping Review (underway).
• VERDICT — Chiropractic Care for Veterans (NIH UG3/UH3AT009761). Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) Co-Investigator. 9/2017–8/2025. Combined Chiropractic Care and Tai Chi for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain — CHRONECK (NIH R34AT011368). Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) Co-Investigator. 9/2022–11/2025.
• Chiropractic Care for Episodic Migraine (NIH R01AT012228). Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) Co-Investigator. 7/2023–4/2027.
• Developmental Center for Clinical and Translational Science in Chiropractic (DCRCI) Project 1: Patient Response to Spinal Manipulation (PRiSM). Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) Co-Investigator.
• Collaborative Care for Veterans with Spine Pain and Mental Health Conditions (COCOV). Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) Co-Investigator.

View all publications on PubMed →

• Kleppe M, McCarey J, Kedilaya S, Vining R. Assessing the importance and feasibility of quality measures for chiropractic care: a national survey of U.S. chiropractors. Chiropr Man Therap. 2026 Mar 28;34(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s12998-026-00635-1. PMID: 41904489; PMCID: PMC13151159.
• Vining R, Twist E, Minkalis A, Kleppe M, Kedilaya S. A Delphi panel consensus study validating the appropriateness, relevance, and clarity of quality measures for chiropractic care. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 Dec 16;25(1):1600. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-13721-6. PMID: 41402803; PMCID: PMC12709684.
• Rudin RS, Herman PM, Vining R. Addressing the “Black Hole” of Low Back Pain Care with Clinical Decision Support: User-Centered Design and Initial Usability Study. JMIR Form Res. 2025 Feb 4;9:e66666. doi: 10.2196/66666. PMID: 39903908; PMCID: PMC11813196.
• Burton WM, Schielke AL, Butler RJ, Huberman DB, Kowalski MH, Wayne PM, Teraoka J, Vining R. Relationships Between Trunk Endurance, Low Back Pain Severity and Functional Disability in a United States Veteran Population: A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2025 Jan-Jun;48(1-5):129-136. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2025.08.001. Epub 2025 Sep 27. PMID: 41015946; PMCID: PMC12479094.
• Vining R, Smith J, Anderson B, Almquist Z, Wong D. Developing an initial set of quality indicators for chiropractic care: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Jan 12;24(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-10561-8. PMID: 38216977; PMCID: PMC10785553.
• Vining R, Onifer SM, Twist E, Ziegler AM, Corber L, Long CR. Thoracolumbar fascia mobility and chronic low back pain: Phase 1 of a pilot and feasibility study assessing repeated measures and the influence of paraspinal muscle contraction. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2023 Apr;34:19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.004. Epub 2023 Apr 6. PMID: 37301552.
• Vining R, Onifer SM, Twist E, Ziegler AM, Corber L, Long CR. Thoracolumbar fascia mobility and chronic low back pain: Phase 2 of a pilot and feasibility study including multimodal chiropractic care. Chiropr Man Therap. 2022 Oct 21;30(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12998-022-00455-z. PMID: 36271428; PMCID: PMC9587561.
• Rist PM, Bernstein C, Kowalski M, Osypiuk K, Connor JP, Vining R, Long CR, Macklin EA, Wayne PM. Multimodal chiropractic care for migraine: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Cephalalgia. 2021 Mar;41(3):318-328. doi: 10.1177/0333102420963844. Epub 2020 Oct 13. PMID: 33050719; PMCID: PMC9670157.
• Vining R, Long CR, Minkalis A, Gudavalli MR, Xia T, Walter J, Coulter I, Goertz CM. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Jul;26(7):592-601. doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0107. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID: 32543211.
• Vining RD, Shannon ZK, Minkalis AL, Twist EJ. Current Evidence for Diagnosis of Common Conditions Causing Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Standardized Terminology Recommendations. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2019 Nov;42(9):651-664. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.08.002. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870637.
• Vining RD, Minkalis AL, Shannon ZK, Twist EJ. Development of an Evidence-Based Practical Diagnostic Checklist and Corresponding Clinical Exam for Low Back Pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2019 Nov;42(9):665-676. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Dec 19. PMID: 31864770.
• Vining RD, Shannon ZK, Salsbury SA, Corber L, Minkalis AL, Goertz CM. Development of a Clinical Decision Aid for Chiropractic Management of Common Conditions Causing Low Back Pain in Veterans: Results of a Consensus Process. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2019 Nov;42(9):677-693. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.03.009. Epub 2019 Dec 19. PMID: 31864769; PMCID: PMC7183425.

• Chair, American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Academician and Researcher of the Year Awards Committee — 2019–2025
• Member: Quality Patient Care Workgroup, Palmer College of Chiropractic – 2022 – present
• Research Affiliate, Osher Center for Integrative Health, Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital — 2023–present
• Member, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) Review Panel and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Review Panel — 2023
• National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Outstanding Scientific Paper Award, Association of Chiropractic Colleges Educational and Research Agenda Conference (ACC-RAC) — 2022 (assessing thoracolumbar fascia mobility with musculoskeletal ultrasound)
• Co-author, Best Research Paper Award, Association of Chiropractic Colleges Educational and Research Agenda Conference (ACC-RAC) — 2021 (description of chiropractic treatment in Department of Defense (DOD) military treatment facilities)
• International Board of Chiropractic Examiners (IBCE) Best Poster in North America, World Federation of Chiropractic/European Chiropractors’ Union (WFC/ECU) Congress — 2019 (chiropractic decision aid for low back pain in Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities)
• American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Academician of the Year — 2019
• Thelma Fordyce-Mack Awards, Palmer College of Chiropractic — 2013, 2014 (2), 2016, 2018, 2019
• Faculty of the Year, Davenport Campus, Palmer College — 2018
• Steering Committee, Inter-Institutional Network for Chiropractic Research — 2018–present
• Member, Ethics and Regulatory Workgroup, National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Department of Defense (DOD)-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pain Management Collaboratory (PMC) — 2018–present
• Editorial boards: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT)