Katie de Luca

A Systematic Review of Manipulative Therapy for the Treatment of Shoulder Pain

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this systematic review is to discuss the evidence for manipulative methods of management of shoulder pain and chiropractic management techniques used within the literature. METHODS A literature search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, MANTIS, the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group trials register and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register was conducted. Search terms included chiropractic or manipulative therapy and shoulder pain, impingement, rotator cuff, shoulder instability, shoulder joint, treatment or rehabilitation exercises. Publications were included if they contained shoulder pain or contained a specific clinical diagnosis of a shoulder pain syndrome in the title; a detailed description of the treatment intervention which was typical of the profession; treatment performed by a registered practitioner and outcome measures were included in the studies. Exclusion criteria included the diagnosis of adhesive capsultis or referred/pathological pain. The articles were reviewed and clinical trials ranked on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. RESULTS From a total of 913 retrieved publications, 22 case reports, 4 case series and 4 randomized, controlled trials met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. CONCLUSIONS The literature contains 2 articles of reasonably sound methodology. The evidence for chiropractic management of shoulder pain is limited to low level evidence in the form of case reports and case series and 1 small controlled trial. There is a need for more well-designed, trials investigating multi-modal chiropractic management for shoulder pain.

A Single-Group Pretest Posttest Design Using Full Kinetic Chain Manipulative Therapy With Rehabilitation in the Treatment of 18 Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) affects 30 million Americans or more, and is a leading cause of disability, suffering, and pain. Standard treatments are minimally effective and carry significant risk and expense. This study assessed treatment effects of a chiropractic protocol for HOA. METHODS Eighteen individuals, who did not qualify due to low baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index scores (WOMAC) for other ongoing HOA randomized control trials, were selected. A prospectively planned protocol, consisting of axial manipulation to the affected hip with modified Thomas and active assisted stretch, was combined with full kinetic chain treatment or manipulative therapy to the spine, knee, ankle, or foot and assessed with use of valid and reliable outcome measures. RESULTS The primary outcome measure, the Overall Therapy Effectiveness Tool, was assessed with chi(2) and demonstrated that 83.33% of participants were improved after the ninth visit, P = .005, and 78% improved at the 3-month follow-up, P = .018. Using the paired t test, WOMAC was improved 64% at the ninth visit, P = .000, and 47% at follow-up, P = .016. CONCLUSION In HOA patients with lower WOMAC scores, a highly organized HOA treatment appears to have resulted in statistically and clinically meaningful intragroup changes in the Overall Effectiveness Therapy Tool, WOMAC, Harris Hip Scale, and range of motion, all with P <or= .05. Although the directionality and strength of the findings are encouraging, fully powered clinical trials are necessary to report generalizable findings.

Chiropractic Management of the Kinetic Chain for the Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis: An Australian Case Series

OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disorder, estimated to affect 3 million Australians. Previous studies support structured exercise programs and manipulation for hip osteoarthritis; however, no trials have examined treatment of the lower limb kinetic chain. The purpose of this case series was to report hip range of motion and pain scale outcomes in 4 patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis who were treated with chiropractic management of the lower limb kinetic chain. METHODS Four subjects (mean age 59.5; SD +/- 6.7) were provided with 9 sessions of chiropractic treatment. This included long-axis traction pulls and pre/post adjustment stretching of the symptomatic hip, with additional manipulation and mobilization of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac, knee, and ankle joints. Outcome measures included range of motion as measured and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS All 4 subjects had improvements in WOMAC scores, with a mean group reduction of 382.5 (SD +/- 115.8) and overall improvement of 68.1%. As a group, there were improvements in internal rotation (51.7%, mean 7.3 degrees; SD +/- 6.2 degrees), adduction (26.7%, mean 5.3 degrees; SD +/- 5.0 degrees), abduction (21.1%, mean 6.8 degrees; SD +/- 5.4 degrees), flexion (15.3%, mean 15 degrees; SD +/- 4.8 degrees) and external rotation (8.5%, mean 8.5 degrees; SD +/- 6.0 degrees). CONCLUSIONS Four patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis had decreases in WOMAC scores and increases in hip range of motion after chiropractic management. Further research in the form of large scale randomized controlled trials is needed to investigate the effectiveness and clinical significance of chiropractic management for hip osteoarthritis.

A web-based survey of the motivations and challenges faced by emerging researchers in the chiropractic profession.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the motivations, challenges and perceptions of the educational environment of emerging researchers in chiropractic. METHODS A descriptive web-based survey of higher-degree chiropractic research students was performed between October and November 2013. The survey consisted of open and closed questions and the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure. RESULTS Twenty-two students currently enrolled in a higher-degree research program participated. Students were most commonly enrolled in a doctor of philosophy program at a part-time rate. Motivations of research were desire to improve the clinical care aspects of chiropractic for the public and belief that chiropractic research is lacking. The greatest challenges were the negative attitudes towards chiropractic, finding enough time to do everything required, and feelings of isolation. The higher-degree research educational environment was perceived to be more positive than negative, with the stimulating nature of research a positive feature. A negative feature of the educational environment was poor undergraduate preparation for higher-degree research. CONCLUSION This study is the first study to describe higher-degree chiropractic research students. Primary motivations included building research, while challenges included not only negative attitudes toward the chiropractic profession but also negative attitudes toward researchers from within the profession. The higher-degree research educational environment was perceived to be positive. By acknowledging the issues that surround emerging researchers in chiropractic, the profession is better placed to foster academics and build research capacity.

Leadership and capacity building in international chiropractic research: introducing the chiropractic academy for research leadership (CARL)

In an evidence-based health care environment, healthcare professions require a sustainable research culture to remain relevant. At present however, there is not a mature research culture across the chiropractic profession largely due to deficiencies in research capacity and leadership, which may be caused by a lack of chiropractic teaching programs in major universities. As a response to this challenge the Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership, CARL, was created with the aim of develop a global network of successful early-career chiropractic researchers under the mentorship of three successful senior academics from Australia, Canada, and Denmark. The program centres upon an annual week-long program residential that rotates continental locations over the first three-year cycle and between residentials the CARL fellows work on self-initiated research and leadership initiatives. Through a competivite application process, the first cohort was selected and consists of 13 early career researchers from five professions in seven countries who represent diverse areas of interests of high relevance for chiropractic. The first residential was held in Odense, Denmark, with the second being planned in April 2018 in Edmonton, Canada, and the final residential to be held in Sydney, Australia in 2019.

A systematic review of thrust manipulation for non-surgical shoulder conditions.

PurposeAlthough many conservative management options are available for patients with non-surgical shoulder conditions, there is little evidence of their effectiveness. This review investigated one manual therapy approach, thrust manipulation, as a treatment option.MethodsA systematic search was conducted of the electronic databases from inception to March 2016: PubMed, PEDro, ICL, CINAHL, and AMED. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening process to determine article eligibility. Inclusion criteria were manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals with human participants of any age. The intervention included was thrust, or high-velocity low-amplitude, manipulative therapy directed to the shoulder and/or the regions of the cervical or thoracic spine. Studies investigating secondary shoulder pain or lacking diagnostic confirmation procedures were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.ResultsThe initial search rendered 5041 articles. After screening titles and abstracts, 36 articles remained for full-text review. Six articles studying subacromial impingement syndrome met inclusion criteria. Four studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 2 were uncontrolled clinical studies. Five studies included 1 application of a thoracic spine thrust manipulation and 1 applied 8 treatments incorporating a shoulder joint thrust manipulation. Statistically significant improvements in pain scores were reported in all studies. Three of 4 RCTs compared a thrust manipulation to a sham, and statistical significance in pain reduction was found within the groups but not between them. Clinically meaningful changes in pain were inconsistent; 3 studies reported that scores met minimum clinically important difference, 1 reported scores did not, and 2 were unclear. Four studies found statistically significant improvements in disability; however, 2 were RCTs and did not find statistical significance between the active and sham groups.ConclusionsNo clinical trials of thrust manipulation for non-surgical shoulder conditions other than subacromial impingement syndrome were found. There is limited evidence to support or refute thrust manipulation as a solitary treatment for this condition. Studies consistently reported pain reduction, but active treatments were comparable to shams. High-quality studies of thrust manipulation with safety data, longer treatment periods and follow-up outcomes are needed.

Prevalence and profile of Australian chiropractors treating athletes or sports people: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES A range of health-care professionals including chiropractors provide treatment for sports-related health problems. This study reports analyses from the first national workforce survey to determine practitioner and practice-related factors associated with the frequent treatment of athletes or sports people by Australian chiropractors. DESIGN AND SETTING A 21-item questionnaire collecting information pertaining to practitioner and practice-related characteristics was distributed to all Australian registered chiropractors, as part of the Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) project and attracted a response rate of 43% (n = 2005). Statistical analyses compared the frequency of treating athletes or sports people against a wide range of relevant practitioner and practice characteristics. RESULTS Of the respondents, 49.5% (n = 936) reported frequently treating athletes or sports people, and these chiropractors were more likely to be male as well as report more patient care hours and patient visits per week than those chiropractors who did not frequently treat athletes or sports people. Chiropractors who frequently treat athletes or sports people were also more likely to perform multi-modal management, have multi-disciplinary practitioner relations, use diagnostic equipment and discuss nutrition and medication use as part of their patient care than those chiropractors who did not frequently treat athletes or sports people. CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of participating Australian chiropractors treat athletes or sports people frequently. The current and potential role of chiropractors in sports medicine appears significant. Further research is needed to examine the role, practices and outcomes of such chiropractic care helping to, provide treatment and policy development in this area of clinical management.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Manual Therapy on Pain and Disability in Older Persons With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review

Objectives The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature of the effectiveness and safety of manual therapy interventions on pain and disability in older persons with chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods A literature search of 4 electronic databases was performed (PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, and CINAHL). Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials of manual therapy interventions on older persons who had chronic LBP. Effectiveness was determined by extracting and examining outcomes for pain and disability, with safety determined by the report of adverse events. The PEDro scale was used for quality assessment of eligible studies. Results The search identified 405 articles, and 38 full‐text articles were assessed. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. All trials were of good methodologic quality and had a low risk of bias. The included studies provided moderate evidence supporting the use of manual therapy to reduce pain levels and alleviate disability. Conclusions A limited number of studies have investigated the effectiveness and safety of manual therapy in the management of older people with chronic LBP. The current evidence to make firm clinical recommendations is limited. Research with appropriately designed trials to investigate the effectiveness and safety of manual therapy interventions in older persons with chronic LBP is required.

Revisión sistemática del tratamiento manipulativo para el hombro doloroso

Resumen Objetivo El objetivo de esta revision sistematica es describir la evidencia para los metodos manipulativos de tratamiento del hombro doloroso y las tecnicas de tratamiento quiropractico usadas en los estudios medicos publicados. Metodo Se efectuo una busqueda de la bibliografia medica en las bases de datos MEDLINE, CINAHL, MANTIS, Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group Trials Register y Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Los terminos de busqueda incluyeron chiropractic or manipulative therapy (tratamiento quiropractico o manipulativo) y shoulder pain (hombro doloroso), impingement (pinzamiento/atrapamiento), rotator cuff (manguito de los rotadores), shoulder instability (inestabilidad del hombro), shoulder joint (articulacion del hombro), treatment or rehabilitation exercises (tratamiento o ejercicios de rehabilitacion). Se incluyeron las publicaciones si en el titulo contenian hombro doloroso o un diagnostico clinico especifico de sindrome del hombro doloroso, proporcionaban una descripcion detallada de la intervencion terapeutica caracteristica de la profesion, tratamiento instaurado por un medico e incluyeron un analisis de las variables. Los criterios de exclusion incluyeron un diagnostico de capsulitis adhesiva o dolor referido/patologico. Se revisaron los articulos y los ensayos clinicos se categorizaron a partir de la escala Evidence Database. Resultados De un total de 913 publicaciones recuperadas, cumplian los criterios de inclusion y exclusion para la presente revision 22 casos clinicos, 4 series de casos y 4 ensayos aleatorizados, controlados. Conclusiones Los estudios publicados contienen 2 articulos cuya metodologia es razonablemente solida. La evidencia para el tratamiento quiropractico se limita a una de bajo nivel en forma de casos clinicos y series de casos y un ensayo controlado a pequena escala. Se necesita un mayor numero de ensayos, bien disenados, que investiguen el tratamiento quiropractico multimodal del hombro doloroso.

A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic management of the lower limb kinetic chain for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis: a study protocol

OBJECTIVE Our objective is to document the methodology of a randomized controlled clinical trial that demonstrates sound research methodology. The chiropractic treatment performed may be useful to allow practitioners to adopt a similar approach when treating hip osteoarthritis. METHODS This study is a registered, ethics-approved, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial. Recruitment included a controlled media release, phone screening, and physical assessment to rule out nonosteoarthritic hip pain. Primary outcome measures were the McMaster Overall Therapy Effectiveness Tool and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, which were assessed at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. Participants were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 intervention groups: protocol A or B. Protocol A received preadjustive stretches of hip musculature, followed by hip manipulation. Protocol B received the above intervention, followed by an additional assessment and chiropractic treatment of the lower limb kinetic chain. Participants received 9 treatments and then after 3 months were offered an additional 6 treatments. Statistics will be performed by an independent biostatistician. RESULTS This article provides a valid and reliable protocol for a randomized controlled trial for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis with chiropractic care. Data should be analyzed for statistical significance to provide evidence for the efficacy of the interventions. CONCLUSIONS This study is an example of sound research methodology, which was scored as excellent on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Findings may be important in the scope of treatment, providing evidence for conservative management options for hip osteoarthritis.