Joel G. Pickar, D.C., Ph.D.

Effects of spinal manipulation on the nervous system; effects of biomechanical and biochemical conditions in paraspinal tissues on the nervous system, including primary afferents, sympathetic efferents, central neurons, and muscle reflexes.

Research Keywords

Spinal manipulation; neurophysiology; muscle spindles; paraspinal muscles (multifidus, longissimus); proprioception and somatosensory signaling; sensory neurophysiology; biomechanics of the vertebral column; preclinical and animal models.

• Ph.D. — University of California, Davis
• D.C. — Palmer College of Chiropractic
• B.A. — Brown University

• Reed WR, Long CR, Kawchuk GN, Sozio RS, Pickar JG. Neural Responses to Physical Characteristics of a High-velocity, Low-amplitude Spinal Manipulation: Effect of Thrust Direction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018 Jan 1;43(1):1-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001344. PMID: 26863348; PMCID: PMC4894003.
• Reed WR, Pickar JG, Sozio RS, Liebschner MAK, Little JW, Gudavalli MR. Characteristics of Paraspinal Muscle Spindle Response to Mechanically Assisted Spinal Manipulation: A Preliminary Report. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017 Jul-Aug;40(6):371-380. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.03.006. Epub 2017 Jun 17. PMID: 28633885; PMCID: PMC5679286.
• Reed WR, Long CR, Kawchuk GN, Pickar JG. Neural responses to the mechanical characteristics of high velocity, low amplitude spinal manipulation: Effect of specific contact site. Man Ther. 2015 Dec;20(6):797-804. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2015.03.008. Epub 2015 Mar 27. PMID: 25841562; PMCID: PMC4584162.
• Reed WR, Pickar JG. Paraspinal Muscle Spindle Response to Intervertebral Fixation and Segmental Thrust Level During Spinal Manipulation in an Animal Model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 Jul 1;40(13):E752-9. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000915. PMID: 25856263; PMCID: PMC4567492.

• Fellow, Palmer Academy of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic — 2013
• Outstanding Faculty of the Year, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport — 2005
• Researcher of the Year, American Chiropractic Association — 2004

CLIN620 Sensory Neurophysiology; CLIN640/ANAT610 Biomechanical & Neurophysiology Approaches to Basic Science Spinal Investigations; CLIN521/CLIN51521 Survey of Chiropractic Research; CLIN640 Independent Study.