Courtesy of Dr. Christopher Kent.
One of the pleasant tasks I have in editing “On Purpose” is the opportunity to review hundreds of chiropractic research articles each month which have a direct bearing on health issues. From these, 60-to-80 per month are judged to be of particular interest to practicing chiropractors. Some studies, particularly those relating to back pain, are well-known to most D.C.s.
Yet, there are fascinating papers which have been largely ignored by the profession (and the Health Care Industry as a whole). I offer ten of my favorites from the last ten years. They are not in any particular order. Each has tremendous potential for further investigation.
Decreased Costs and Utilization of Medical Services with Chiropractic Care
Spectacular decreases in the utilization of medical services and their attendant costs were observed when Doctors of Chiropractic were used as first contact providers. In an Independent Practice Association (IPA) which permitted patients to select a doctor of chiropractic as their primary care physician, clinical and cost utilization based on 70,274 member-months over a seven-year period demonstrated decreases of 60.2 percent in hospital admissions, 59 percent hospital days, 62 percent outpatient surgeries and procedures, and 85 percent pharmaceutical costs when compared with conventional medicine. These were across the board savings, not merely back and neck cases.
Sarnat RL, Winterstein J, Cambron JA: Clinical utilization and cost outcomes from an integrative medicine independent physician association: an additional 3-year update. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2007 May;30(4):263-9.
Blood Pressure Regulation and Upper Cervical Chiropractic Adjustment
The scope of chiropractic is as broad as the scope of influence of the human nervous system. This landmark study was a randomized, controlled trial of hypertensive patients. Those in the intervention group received a form of upper cervical chiropractic care (NUCCA). The authors wrote, “We conclude that restoration of Atlas alignment is associated with marked and sustained reductions in BP similar to the use of two-drug combination therapy.” This study received extensive positive exposure in the media.
Bakris G, Dickholtz M Sr, Meyer PM, Kravitz G, Avery E, Miller M, Brown J, Woodfield C, Bell B: Atlas vertebra realignment and achievement of arterial pressure goal in hypertensive patients: a pilot study. J Hum Hypertens. 2007 May;21(5):347-52. Epub 2007 Mar 2.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Wellness Program Implemented by Chiropractors
A retrospective study of a standardized, 18 week wellness protocol was shown to improve weight, heart rate, blood pressure, strength, body-mass index, and forced vital capacity. The wellness protocol focused on diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and one-on-one coaching. The author also reported, “All of the participating clinics practice a form of chiropractic that involves management of vertebral subluxation. This application of chiropractic is not solely directed at spinal manipulation for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal pain syndromes. It is based on the contention that misalignments and/or abnormal motion of vertebral motion units may compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health and well-being.”
McCoy M: Evaluation of a standardized wellness protocol to improve anthropometric and physiologic function and to reduce health risk factors: a retrospective analysis of outcome. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jan;17(1):39-44. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0113. Epub 2011 Jan 3.
Mental Health and Chiropractic
From the establishment of in-patient chiropractic sanitariums to publication of a text with contributions from two Nobel Laureates, doctors of chiropractic have a long history of providing care for persons with mental health issues. The PRISM (Psychological response in spinal manipulation) study was a systematic review of psychological outcomes in twelve randomised controlled trials. The authors reported a small improvement in psychological outcomes after spinal manipulation compared with verbal interventions and other physical treatments, with small and medium sized standardized mean differences (SMDs) in favor of manipulation compared to primary care and advice. The potential of chiropractic care to improve psychological outcomes deserves further exploration.
Williams NH1, Hendry M, Lewis R, Russell I, Westmoreland A, Wilkinson C: Psychological response in spinal manipulation (PRISM): a systematic review of psychological outcomes in randomised controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2007 Dec;15(4):271-83. Epub 2007 Mar 8.
Surgery Less Likely if a Doctor of Chiropractic is Seen First
A study looking at 1885 workers, 174 of which had lumbar spine surgery in the last three years, sought to identify early predictors of having lumbar spine surgery. The authors reported “Approximately 42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery, in contrast to only 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the multivariate model was 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.95), indicating excellent ability to discriminate between workers who would versus would not have surgery.”Chiropractic Care Associated with Satisfaction, Functional and Self-Rated Health of Medicare Patients.
This study used a model to determine “the effect of chiropractic relative to medical care on decline in 5 functional measures and 2 measures of self-rated health among 12,170 person-year observations.” The authors concluded that “chiropractic is significantly protective against 1-year decline in activities of daily living, lifting, stooping, walking, self-rated health, and worsening health after 1 year. Persons using chiropractic are more satisfied with their follow-up care and with the information provided to them.”
Weigel PA, Hockenberry JM, Wolinsky FD: Chiropractic use in the medicare population: prevalence, patterns, and associations with 1-year changes in health and satisfaction with care. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 Oct;37(8):542-51. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.08.003. Epub 2014 Sep 16.
Asymptomatic Persons Benefit from Chiropractic Care
A review of literature was conducted using the terms “asymptomatic” “normal” “pain-free” “healthy” or “free from physical injury.” The author concluded, “The data reviewed lend support to the contention that chiropractic adjustments, often for the purpose of correcting vertebral subluxation, confer measurable health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. A significant amount of preliminary evidence supports that people without symptoms can benefit from chiropractic care. Improved function can be objectively measured in asymptomatic individuals following chiropractic care in a number of body systems often by relatively non-invasive means. It is plausible that chiropractic care may be of benefit to every function of the body and have the potential for long-term, overall health benefit to those receiving chiropractic care.”
Hannon SM: Objective physiologic changes and associated health benefits of chiropractic adjustments in asymptomatic subjects: A review of the literature. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ April 26, 2004 ~ Pages 1-9.
Neurovertebral Influence Upon the Autonomic Nervous System
In a 2 part series, Rome assessed nearly 500 papers addressing spine-related neural reflexes upon organic symptoms, signs and conditions and the somato-autonomic influence. This incredible resource should be read by every practicing chiropractor, particularly those who see the value of chiropractic care as limited to musculoskeletal pain syndromes. The review includes visceral, immune, endocrine, and cognitive issues.
Rome PL: Neurovertebral influence upon the autonomic nervous system: Some of the somato-autonomic evidence to date. Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39: 2-17.
Reorganizational Healing and Chiropractic
Reorganizational healing offers a new paradigm or world view. It is described as an approach to personal awareness, acceptance, and transformation spanning the spectrum from illness to new levels of wellness in behavior and consciousness. The authors state, “Reorganizational Healing emerged from three disciplines developed by Donald Epstein: 1) Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) care, 2) Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI) exercises, and 3) an energetic educational discipline (EED) that is in an informal stage of development. These three disciplines arose from practical application, qualitative and empirical research, as well as a broad theoretical base including Integral Theory. Some major developments from these methodologies are described below in order to show the transdisciplinary roots of ROH. While ROH developed from these three methodologies, it transcends and includes them.” This is a very heady work, and offers an exciting model for discovery, transformation, awakening, or integration.
Epstein DM, Senzon SA, Lemberger D: Reorganizational healing: a paradigm for the advancement of wellness, behavior change, holistic practice, and healing. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 May;15(5):475-87. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0043.
10. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Chiropractic
Decreased heart rate variability is associated with all-cause mortality, depression, diabetes, air pollution, impaired cognitive performance, and memory retrieval. A growing body of evidence from across disciplines suggests the HRV may be used to address adaptive capacity and autonomic nervous system balance. The authors wrote, “Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has been used extensively as a measurement of fitness level, and recent studies now indicate that it may be a useful tool in detecting and following disease processes. Heart rate variability analysis determines the balance between PNS and SNS using time and frequency domain measurements. Heart rate variability has been used clinically to determine the balance of the autonomic nervous system.” In this study, the authors collected pre and post HRV data on 625 patients in 96 chiropractic practices. 132 patients were followed for a four week period. The authors reported that “The chiropractic care group showed a significant improvement in HRV on both the single-visit and the 4-week visit groups, but not in the control group.”
Zhang J, Dean D, Nosco D, Strathopulos D, Floros M: Effect of chiropractic care on heart rate variability and pain in a multisite clinical study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 May;29(4):267-74.
I hope that these articles inspire you, and bring you to a higher level of certainty. The common message:
Chiropractic care affects every dimension of the human experience.
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