Robert Cooperstein

Rating specific chiropractic technique procedures for common low back conditions

OBJECTIVE To rate specific chiropractic technique procedures used in the treatment of common low back conditions. DESIGN AND METHODS A panel of chiropractors rated specific chiropractic technique procedures for their effectiveness in the treatment of common low back conditions, based on the quality of supporting evidence after systematic literature reviews and expert clinical opinion. Statements related to the rating process and clinical practice were then developed through a facilitated nominal consensus process. RESULTS For most low back conditions presented in this study, the three procedures rated most effective were high-velocity, low- amplitude (HVLA) with no drop table (side posture), distraction technique, and HVLA prone with drop table assist. The three rated least effective were upper cervical technique, non-thrust reflex/low force, and lower extremity adjusting. The four conditions rated most amenable to chiropractic treatment were noncomplicated low back pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, posterior joint/subluxation, and low back pain with buttock or leg pain. CONCLUSIONS The ratings for the effectiveness of chiropractic technique procedures for the treatment of common low back conditions are not equal. Those procedures rated highest are supported by the highest quality of literature. Much more evidence is necessary for chiropractors to understand which procedures maximally benefit patients for which conditions.

Review of methods used by chiropractors to determine the site for applying manipulation

BackgroundWith the development of increasing evidence for the use of manipulation in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, there is growing interest in identifying the appropriate indications for care. Recently, attempts have been made to develop clinical prediction rules, however the validity of these clinical prediction rules remains unclear and their impact on care delivery has yet to be established. The current study was designed to evaluate the literature on the validity and reliability of the more common methods used by doctors of chiropractic to inform the choice of the site at which to apply spinal manipulation.MethodsStructured searches were conducted in Medline, PubMed, CINAHL and ICL, supported by hand searches of archives, to identify studies of the diagnostic reliability and validity of common methods used to identify the site of treatment application. To be included, studies were to present original data from studies of human subjects and be designed to address the region or location of care delivery. Only English language manuscripts from peer-reviewed journals were included. The quality of evidence was ranked using QUADAS for validity and QAREL for reliability, as appropriate. Data were extracted and synthesized, and were evaluated in terms of strength of evidence and the degree to which the evidence was favourable for clinical use of the method under investigation.ResultsA total of 2594 titles were screened from which 201 articles met all inclusion criteria. The spectrum of manuscript quality was quite broad, as was the degree to which the evidence favoured clinical application of the diagnostic methods reviewed. The most convincing favourable evidence was for methods which confirmed or provoked pain at a specific spinal segmental level or region. There was also high quality evidence supporting the use, with limitations, of static and motion palpation, and measures of leg length inequality. Evidence of mixed quality supported the use, with limitations, of postural evaluation. The evidence was unclear on the applicability of measures of stiffness and the use of spinal x-rays. The evidence was of mixed quality, but unfavourable for the use of manual muscle testing, skin conductance, surface electromyography and skin temperature measurement.ConclusionsA considerable range of methods is in use for determining where in the spine to administer spinal manipulation. The currently published evidence falls across a spectrum ranging from strongly favourable to strongly unfavourable in regard to using these methods. In general, the stronger and more favourable evidence is for those procedures which take a direct measure of the presumptive site of care– methods involving pain provocation upon palpation or localized tissue examination. Procedures which involve some indirect assessment for identifying the manipulable lesion of the spine–such as skin conductance or thermography–tend not to be supported by the available evidence.

Spinal Motion Palpation: A Comparison of Studies That Assessed Intersegmental End Feel Vs Excursion

OBJECTIVE Spinal motion palpation (MP) is a procedure used to detect intersegmental hypomobility/hypermobility. Different means of assessing intersegmental mobility are described, assessing either excursion of the segments (quantity of movement) or end feel (quality of motion when stressed against the paraphysiological space). The objective of this review was to classify and compare studies based on method of MP used, considering that some studies may have used both methods. METHODS Four databases were searched: MEDLINE-PubMed, Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy System, Index to Chiropractic Literature, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases for the years 1965 through January 2007. Retrieved citations were independently screened for inclusion by 2 of the authors consistent with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies were appraised for quality, and data were extracted and recorded in tables. RESULTS The search strategy generated 415 citations, and 29 were harvested from reference lists. After removing articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 44 were considered relevant and appraised for quality. Fifteen studies focused on MP excursion, 24 focused on end feel, and 5 used both. Eight studies reported high levels of reproducibility (kappa = >or=0.4), although 4 were not of acceptable quality, and 2 were only marginally acceptable. When only high-quality studies were considered, 3 of 24 end-feel studies reported good reliability compared with 1 of 15 excursion studies. There was no statistical support for a difference between the 2 groupings. CONCLUSIONS A difference in reported reliability was observed when the method of MP varied, although it was not statistically significant. There was no support in the literature for the advantage of one MP method over the other.

The relationship between pelvic torsion and anatomical leg length inequality: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE Although it is common to find assertions relating functional leg length inequality (LLI) to pelvic torsion and other states of subluxation, comments and/or data concerning anatomical LLI in this same context are uncommon. This review of the literature synthesizes the evidence on pelvic torsion in relation to anatomical LLI. METHODS The literature was searched using the PubMed; Manual, Alternative, and Natural Therapy Index System; Allied and Complementary Medicine Database; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; and Index to Chiropractic Literature databases for primary studies that related LLI, either artificially created or naturally occurring, to pelvic torsion. Extracted data included natural vs artificial LLI, method of creating or detecting LLI, subject selection, methodology for measuring pelvic torsion, and results. RESULTS Nine English-language studies were retrieved published 1936-2004. Seven determined the impact of artificial, transient LLI on pelvic torsion, whereas 2 studied the effect of naturally occurring LLI. CONCLUSION Across varying methodologies for measuring LLI and pelvic torsion, a consistent, dose-related pattern was identified in which the innominate rotates anteriorly on the side of a shorter leg and posteriorly on the side of the longer leg. This finding was contrary to the common assertion that the ilium rotates posteriorly on the side of a short leg and vice versa. Practitioners of manual medicine who derive vectors for intervention based on leg checking procedures should consider the possibility that the direction of pelvic torsion may be variable depending on whether the LLI is of anatomical or functional origin.

Gonstead Chiropractic Technique (GCT)

Gonstead is a big technique, in the sense that 58.5% of the chiropractor out there say they use it, although not exclusively, and that 28.9% of patients apparently receive Gonstead care. (1) Vear (2) thinks its analytic and adjustive methods are so typical of the mainstream of chiropractic, so generic, that GCT should hardly be considered a system technique – but we disagree. One need simply ask the next Gonstead practitioner who walks by: “Is Gonstead a system technique, or an umbrella for all things chiropractic?” No doubt what the answer would be. Although flattered by the suggestion that their technique includes so much that is considered mainstream and essential to chiropractic, we would find our Gonstead friends most willing to point out how their methods differ from so many of the other system techniques. We might point out that the GCT is big enough to have what may be called sub-techniques, adherents who espouse different types of Gonsteadinspired practices of chiropractic. We know in advance we will not be able to impress all of the Gonsteadinspired techniques with the accuracy of this work, and yet we hope they will think we captured the spirit of the methods of Clarence Gonstead.

Spinous process palpation using the scapular tip as a landmark vs a radiographic criterion standard.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed at determining the standing spinal landmark that corresponds to the inferior tip of the scapula and determining the accuracy of experienced palpators in locating a spinous process (SP) 3 levels above and below a given SP. METHODS The study participants were 34 asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic chiropractic students. An experienced palpator located the inferior scapular tip on each and then positioned a 2-mm lead marker about 5 cm lateral to the nearest SP. Two more markers were placed at levels intended to be 3 levels above and below the first marker placed. The locations of the scapular tip and the spinal targets were determined by comparison with a radiological criterion standard. RESULTS The standing inferior scapular tip corresponded to the T8 SP on average (SD = 0.9). Having placed the first lead marker, examiners on average overshot the upper marker by 0.26 (SD = 0.51) vertebral levels and undershot the lower marker by 0.21 (SD = 0.48) vertebral levels. The modes for the placement of the 3 markers were at T5, T8, and T11. CONCLUSION Approximately 68% of patients would be palpated to have their inferior scapular tips at T7, T8, or T9. An experienced palpator can quite accurately locate vertebral levels 3 above or below a given landmark. Chiropractors and other health professionals using the typical rule of thumb linking the inferior scapular tip to the standing T7 SP have likely been applying clinical interventions at spinal locations different from those intended.

Cross-Sectional Validity Study of Compressive Leg Checking in Measuring Artificially Created Leg Length Inequality

OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of instrumented, prone compressive leg checking. DESIGN Point measures (n=29) on single participants. SETTING Chiropractic college research clinic. METHODS A pair of surgical boots was modified to permit continuous measurement of leg length inequality (LLI). The accuracy of prone leg checking for a masked examiner (n = 29) was determined, against the gold standard of artificial LLI that was created by randomly inserting zero to six 1.6 mm shims in either boot. Accuracy was defined as the examiners ability to correctly assess the change in the number and side of shims inserted, in two consecutive observations per participant. Linear regression and Bland-Altman statistics were obtained to determine the concurrent validity of compressive leg checking compared to a reference standard. RESULTS The observed and artificial LLI shared 86% of their variation (n = 29) The mean examiner error was 2.7 mm and the accuracy of dichotomous short leg determination for two shim insertions was 86.2%. The 95% confidence interval for the Bland-Altman limits-of-agreement for observed vs. artificial change in LLI was (-7.6, +5.2). CONCLUSIONS Instrumented, compressive leg checking seems highly accurate, detecting artificial changes in leg length of 2-3 mm, and thus possesses concurrent validity assessed against artificial LLI. Pre- and post leg check differences should exceed about 4-6 mm to be highly confident a real change has occurred. It is unknown whether compressive leg checking is clinically relevant.

The location of the inferior angle of the scapula in relation to the spine in the upright position: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Practitioners in several of the health care professions use anatomical landmarks to identify spinal levels, both in order to enhance diagnostic accuracy and to specifically target the site of intervention. Authoritative sources usually state the upright inferior scapular angle (IAS) aligns with the spinous process (SP) of T7, but some specify the T7-8 interspace or the T8 SP. The primary goals of this study were to systematically review the relevant literature; and conduct a meta-analysis of the pooled data from retrieved studies to increase their statistical power. Electronic searching retrieved primary studies relating the IAS to a spinal level, as determined by an imaging reference standard, using combinations of these search terms: scapula, location, landmark, spinous process, thoracic vertebrae, vertebral level, palpation, and spine. Only primary studies were included; review articles and reliability studies related to scapular position but lacking spinal correlations were excluded. Eight-hundred and eighty (880) articles of interest were identified, 43 abstracts were read, 22 full text articles were inspected, and 5 survived the final cut. Each article (with one exception) was rated for quality using the QUADAS instrument. Pooling data from 5 studies resulted in normal distribution in which the upright IAS on average aligns closely with the T8 SP, range T4-T11. Since on average the IAS most closely identifies the T8 SP in the upright position, it is very likely that health professionals, both manual therapists and others, who have been diagnosing and treating patients based on the IAS = T7 SP rule (the conventional wisdom), have not been as segmentally accurate as they may have supposed. They either addressed non-intended levels, or made numeration errors in their charting. There is evidence that using the IAS is less preferred than using the vertebra prominens, and may be less preferred than using the iliac crest for identifying spinal levels Manual therapists, acupuncturists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgeons should reconsider their procedures for identifying spinal sites in light of this modified information. Inaccurate landmark benchmark rules will add to patient variation and examiner errors in producing spine care targeting errors, and confound research on the importance of specificity in treating spinal levels.

Heuristic exploration of how leg checking procedures may lead to inappropriate sacroiliac clinical interventions

Several primary studies have shown that an anatomical short leg predicts anterior rotation of the ipsilateral ilium, whereas anatomical long leg predicts posterior rotation of the ilium on the long leg side. At the same time, in chiropractic and other manual therapy professions, it is widely believed that the leg check finding of a short leg is associated with posterior ilium rotation, and a long leg with anterior ilium rotation. The purpose of this commentary is to explore the consequences of this paradox for the manual therapy professions, insofar as leg checking procedures are commonly used to derive appropriate vectors for chiropractic manipulation/adjustive procedures.

Mapping intended spinal site of care from the upright to prone position: an interexaminer reliability study

BackgroundUpright examination procedures like radiology, thermography, manual muscle testing, and spinal motion palpation may lead to spinal interventions with the patient prone. The reliability and accuracy of mapping upright examination findings to the prone position is unknown. This study had 2 primary goals: (1) investigate how erroneous spine-scapular landmark associations may lead to errors in treating and charting spine levels; and (2) study the interexaminer reliability of a novel method for mapping upright spinal sites to the prone position.MethodsExperiment 1 was a thought experiment exploring the consequences of depending on the erroneous landmark association of the inferior scapular tip with the T7 spinous process upright and T6 spinous process prone (relatively recent studies suggest these levels are T8 and T9, respectively). This allowed deduction of targeting and charting errors. In experiment 2, 10 examiners (2 experienced, 8 novice) used an index finger to maintain contact with a mid-thoracic spinous process as each of 2 participants slowly moved from the upright to the prone position. Interexaminer reliability was assessed by computing Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, standard error of the mean, root mean squared error, and the absolute value of the mean difference for each examiner from the 10 examiner mean for each of the 2 participants.ResultsThe thought experiment suggesting that using the (inaccurate) scapular tip landmark rule would result in a 3 level targeting and charting error when radiological findings are mapped to the prone position. Physical upright exam procedures like motion palpation would result in a 2 level targeting error for intervention, and a 3 level error for charting. The reliability experiment showed examiners accurately maintained contact with the same thoracic spinous process as the participant went from upright to prone, ICC (2,1) = 0.83.ConclusionsAs manual therapists, the authors have emphasized how targeting errors may impact upon manual care of the spine. Practitioners in other fields that need to accurately locate spinal levels, such as acupuncture and anesthesiology, would also be expected to draw important conclusions from these findings.