Dr. Ralph Filson, professor of chiropractic sciences at Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Missouri, was appointed in August as team chiropractor for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He began treating the players at the Rams' training camp and is developing a treatment schedule with the team for the football season.
The opportunity to work with the Rams came via his consulting work the last two years with the St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball team, adjusting home run champion Mark McGwire and other Cardinals' players. Dr. Filson continues to work with McGwire and his teammates at their home games.
"With interest in natural approaches to health care among the public and elite athletes flourishing, we believe that Dr. Filson's work will contribute much to the development of positive perceptions of chiropractic," said Logan President Dr. George Goodman.
The FCER-funded study by P.D. Boline et al., has received the highest methodological rating in a critical literature review of 27 randomized clinical trials on neck pain published between 1966-1995. The results were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine (Kjellman GV, et al. 1999; Vol. 31, pp. 139-152).
The Boline study ("Spinal Manipulation vs. Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headaches: A Randomized Clinical Trial") received a quality rating of 62 (out of a possible 100). One other study also received a 62 rating. One third of the studies earned a quality score of 50 or higher.
Anthony Rosner,PhD, director of research at the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER), judged the Boline study was "one of the most positive outcome studies that has appeared anywhere in the literature concerning the efficacy of chiropractic."
Dr. Rosner said the study's comparison of manipulation of tension headaches versus prescription medication "shows an effect that is at least as pronounced as medication, is longer lasting, and has fewer side effects.
"I think we need to make as loud a noise with this information as possible," added Dr. Rosner.
The Boline study was published in JMPT, March/April 1995, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 148-154. The study is available by calling FCER's literature search service at 1-800-743-3282.
The Northwestern College of Chiropractic's Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies has received a $53,000 grant for a research project on acute neck pain from the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research.
The principal investigator will be Gert Bronfort,DC,PhD; Roni Evans,DC, is the co-investigator. The study begins this September and will conclude in August 2000. It begins with a 24-patient randomized pilot study, which will provide the preliminary information for a full-scale randomized clinical trial.
"A pilot study is like a dress rehearsal for a full-scale study," explained Dr. Evans.
The full-scale study will assess the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care, medical care, or self-care for acute neck pain.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
