LATEST HEADLINES News From the FCER FCER Funds Study on Maintenance Care 2007 Research Summaries On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review Increase Revenues In Your Office Train your CA's Online to Provide Billable Wellness Services: Aromatherapy Online Speciality Courses CA Xray Technology Course for Chiropractors Maryland Jurisprudence Course Released FCER Funds Study on Maintenance Care For Immediate Release: March 16, 2007 Norwalk, Iowa—Thanks to generous support from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research is pleased to announce the funding of one of the first studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic care for the prevention of chronic cervical pain. Title: Preventive Care of Chronic Cervical Pain and Disabilities: Comparison of Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Individualized Home Exercise Programs Principal Investigator: Martin Descarreaux, D.C., Ph.D. To be conducted at Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres Although tertiary preventive (maintenance) care is commonly practiced by chiropractors with 95%1 of American chiropractors believing that such care will minimize the recurrence or exacerbation of pain and symptoms, there is at present very little research to directly support this assertion. This proposal seeks to address this problem by determining whether a preventive regime of spinal manipulation, or a home exercise program, a combination of approaches, or doing nothing following a period of intensive chiropractic care is the more efficient approach to reduce pain and increase functional capacity, quality of life, and the general health condition of patients initially complaining of chronic cervical pain. This study will involve 105 patients who first receive 15 chiropractic adjustments using the diversified technique over a 5-week period. They are then passed into a second phase of the program which lasts 45 weeks by being randomly allocated into (i) a no-treatment group, (ii) a group receiving 15 additional chiropractic manipulations 3 weeks apart; and (iii) manipulation plus home exercise group of 10-15 minutes on a daily basis. Time spent with all 3 experimental groups will be equalized to eliminate attention bias as a possible confounding factor of results. Outcomes to be monitored will include pain (visual analog scale), disability (neck disability index), quality of life (SF-36), postural analysis, and various psychological measures (Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive scale, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test), in addition to maximal strength in extension, flexion and lateral flexion, active range of motion in 3 planes, and a kinematic analysis of head movement. All readings are to be conducted at baseline, second, and final evaluation. Exercises will include submaximal isometric and one dynamic contraction of the neck muscles with given rest periods between contractions. As FCER works to provide the chiropractic profession and its practitioners with the tools to apply evidence to practice through the creation of the Evidence-Based Chiropractic Resource Center (EB-CRC), the focus on the funding of new research projects and promising young researchers has not been lost. In fact, one purpose of the EB-CRC is to improve communication between the research community and those whose livelihoods are most affected by the results—the chiropractic clinician. With limited funding available for chiropractic research, it is important that the research conducted meets the needs of the practitioners and all who work in their behalf. For more information on FCER, it’s funded projects and Fellows, the EB-CRC, and the other programs available to benefit the practicing Doctor of Chiropractic, please visit www.fcer.org. NCBE is dedicated to promoting excellence in the chiropractic profession. For more information on NBCE, its history, and testing information, please go to www.nbce.org. Reference: 1. Rupert RL. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. January 2000; Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 1-9. TOP 2006 Research Summaries On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review Scott C Cuthbert and George J Goodheart Jr. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2007, 15:4 doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-4 Published 6 March 2007 Introduction: A body of basic science and clinical research has been generated on the manual muscle test (MMT) since its first peer-reviewed publication in 1915. The aim of this report is to provide an historical overview, literature review, description, synthesis and critique of the reliability and validity of MMT in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Methods: Online resources were searched including Pubmed and CINAHL (each from inception to June 2006). The search terms manual muscle testing or manual muscle test were used. Relevant peer-reviewed studies, commentaries, and reviews were selected. The two reviewers assessed data quality independently, with selection standards based on predefined methodologic criteria. Studies of MMT were categorized by research content type: inter- and intra-examiner reliability studies, and construct, content, concurrent and predictive validity studies. Each study was reviewed in terms of its quality and contribution to knowledge regarding MMT, and its findings presented. Results: More than 100 studies related to MMT and the applied kinesiology chiropractic technique (AK) that employs MMT in its methodology were reviewed, including studies on the clinical efficacy of MMT in the diagnosis of patients with symptomatology. With regard to analysis there is evidence for good reliability and validity in the use of MMT for patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. The observational cohort studies demonstrated good external and internal validity, and the 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were reviewed show that MMT findings were not dependent upon examiner bias. Conclusion: The MMT employed by chiropractors, physical therapists, and neurologists was shown to be a clinically useful tool, but its ultimate scientific validation and application requires testing that employs sophisticated research models in the areas of neurophysiology, biomechanics, RCTs, and statistical analysis. To view the complete article, Click here, or cut and paste the following into your browser: http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/pdf/1746-1340-15-4.pdf The Research Abstract of the Month is bought to you by Dean Smith, DC, PhD. TOP Increase Revenues In Your Office (Rocky Hill, CT) Train your CA's Online to Provide Billable Wellness Services: Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is a growing complementary therapy, important in many facets of the Wellness Industry. Online training of your CA is a cost effective way to certify them in Aromatherapy so they can provide a billable service in your office. The Level 1 course provides an excellent place to start your studies or simply familiarize yourself with this exciting field. After completing the Level 1 Fundamentals Course, you may wish to continue to Professional Aromatherapy Studies with our Level 2 course, leading to Certification, and preparing you to integrate Aromatherapy into your existing practice. Click here for information on our Level 1 program or cut and paste the following into your web browser: http://www.chirocredit.com/coursedescriptions/aromalevelone.shtml Click here for information on our Level 1 program or cut and paste the following into your web browser: http://www.chirocredit.com/coursedescriptions/aromaleveltwo.shtml Accreditation: OnlineContinuingEd, LLC is approved by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Council for Aromatherapy Schools and Educators to offer Level One and Level Two Aromatherapy Programs. TOP CA Xray Technology Course for Chiropractors Maryland Jurisprudence Course Released California Xray Technology Course www.ChiroCredit.com is proud to announce the availability of a 10 hour online course that offers California Chiropractors required Xray hours to renew permits and certificates as licentiates of the healing arts are required to earn 10 approved continuing education credits in the two years immediately preceding the expiration of the certificate or permit. The requirement for continuing education credits are specified in Section 30403 of Title 17, California Code of Regulations. This is not a Chiropractic Board requirement, so, although the hours earned in this course can not be applied to meeting Chiropractic Continuing Education requirements, it is an approved course for the xray permit and certificate requirement. Please see the topic: California Xray Technology Course on www.ChiroCredit.com. Maryland Jurisprudence Course www.ChiroCredit.com is proud to announce the availability of a one hour Maryland Jurisprudence Course. This course meets the requirement of one hour of jurisprudence and has been approved by the Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Please visit www.ChiroCredit.com to take this course. New Release Special...only $15! TOP SUBSCRIBE NOW! SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sign up below for our FREE Chiropractic Headline Newsletter! Enter email address: Email address: Click here to view archive of prior issues HOME | SUBMIT NEWS | CONTACT US ©2003, ChiroWire.com All rights reserved.