Research Excellence in Chiropractic
Research in chiropractic science is booming in Quebec and the rest of Canada, and throughout the world.
The development of knowledge in neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) health and the ongoing publication of research findings in the field of joint manipulation impact chiropractors’ practice on a daily basis. Evidence-based practice, as proposed by the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative, requires a balance among the following three elements:
- Chiropractors’ experience and competence
- Best available scientific data
- Patients’ choices and values
Many chiropractic research programs and chairs established in several Canadian universities promote the scientific advancement of the profession of chiropractor, providing a definite health benefit for Quebecers.
To learn more about chiropractic research development, visit:
chiropractic.ca wfcsuggestedreadinglist.com
The Health Benefits of Chiropractic
Chiropractic care has been scientifically shown to treat many conditions, including lumbar (lower back) pain, disc herniation, headaches, cervical (neck) pain and shoulder pain. Moreover, studies have demonstrated the safety of chiropractic care.
Advances in chiropractic research in the past 15 years have made it possible to better understand the mechanisms on which the effectiveness of chiropractic care is based. Through basic research, the scientific community is able to conduct rigorously methodological clinical studies.
The following are a few examples of the studies conducted:
Lumbar (lower back) pain
A systematic review of randomized clinical trials aimed at comparing the effectiveness of chiropractic care with that of care provided by other healthcare professionals in the treatment of lumbar pain concluded that the effectiveness of chiropractic care is comparable to that of medical care and physiotherapy:
Sciatica and disc herniation
A recent cohort study revealed that patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation showed similar results when treated with spinal manipulations or nerve root injections. Although more in-depth studies are required, these results are promising:
Cervical pain
Spinal manipulations are among the therapeutic recommendations for the relief of cervical pain:
- Management of neck pain and associated disorders: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Côté P, Wong JJ, Sutton D, Shearer HM, Mior S, Randhawa K, Ameis A, Carroll LJ, Nordin M, Yu H, Lindsay GM, Southerst D, Varatharajan S, Jacobs C, Stupar M, Taylor-Vaisey A, van der Velde G, Gross DP, Brison RJ, Paulden M, Ammendolia C, David Cassidy J, Loisel P, Marshall S, Bohay RN, Stapleton J, Lacerte M, Krahn M, Salhany R. Eur Spine J. 2016 Jul ; 25 (7) : 2000-22.
-
The benefits outweigh the risks for patients undergoing chiropractic care for neck pain: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. Rubinstein SM, Leboeuf-Yde C, Knol DL, de Koekkoek TE, Pfeifle CE, van Tulder MW. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2007 Jul-Aug ; 30 (6) : 408-18.
Headaches and migraines
A systematic review of conclusive research data establishes the clinical effectiveness of manual therapies administered by chiropractors in the treatment of headaches of cervical origin:
- Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report. Clar C, Tsertsvadze A, Court R, Hundt GL, Clarke A, Sutcliffe P. Chiropr Man Therap. 2014 Mar 28;22 (1):12.
- Are non-invasive interventions effective for the management of headaches associated with neck pain? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Varatharajan S, Ferguson B, Chrobak K, Shergill Y, Côté P, Wong JJ, Yu H, Shearer HM, Southerst D, Sutton D, Randhawa K, Jacobs C, Abdulla S, Woitzik E, Marchand AA, van der Velde G, Carroll LJ, Nordin M, Ammendolia C, Mior S, Ameis A, Stupar M, Taylor-Vaisey A. Eur Spine J. 2016 Jul;25(7):1971-99
Shoulder pain
Systematic reviews of conclusive research data establish the effectiveness of manual therapies administered by chiropractors in the treatment of shoulder pain:
- The effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper and lower extremities: a systematic review by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Southerst D, Yu H, Randhawa K, Côté P, D’Angelo K, Shearer HM, Wong JJ, Sutton D, Varatharajan S, Goldgrub R, Dion S, Cox J, Menta R, Brown CK, Stern PJ, Stupar M, Carroll LJ, Taylor-Vaisey A. Chiropr Man Therap. 2015 Oct 27;11:30 pm
- Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report. Clar C, Tsertsvadze A, Court R, Hundt GL, Clarke A, Sutcliffe P. Chiropr Man Therap. 2014 Mar 28;22 (1):12.