Dr. Don and Joan Kimble of the Kimble Chiropractic Clinic in Rock Hill, South Carolina have given the Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, a grant for $100,000 to fund the second phase of a clinical study to compare the biomechanics of whiplash injuries and healthy necks. The effectiveness of chiropractic, rehabilitative procedures, surgery, and "non treatment" protocols will be examined.
The completed first phase of the project involved development of three-dimensional motion analysis methods to determine axes of motion in normal individuals. In addition, a small scale study of 10 patients quantified axes of motion between normal and injured necks. This study has already been accepted for publication. Osterbauer PJ, Derickson KL, Peles JD, Deboer KF, Fuhr AW, Winters JM: 3-D head kinematics and clinical outcome of patients with neck injury treated with spinal manipulation therapy. JMPT 1992, in press.
The second phase of the study will compare 60 normal subjects and 20 patients with varying degrees of neck injury and axes of motion in the cervical spine. A computer graphics program will illustrate measurements of cervical motion. Principal investigator for the current study is Gary Yamaguchi, Ph.D., a Stanford trained mechanical engineer and assistant professor at ASU. Dr. Yamaguchi has previous biomedical engineering research experience through the Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.
Dr. Yamaguchi will collaborate with Kathleen Derickson, B.S.E., biomedical engineer; Paul Osterbauer, D.C.; Randall Widmaier, D.C.; Eric Petermann, D.C.; Jack Winters, Ph.D., (who initiated the project while at ASU); Chris Eblen, Ph.D., and Curt Bay, Ph.D., both biomedical statisticians; and Herman Woltring, Ph.D., a mathematician from the Netherlands.
This second phase of the project is expected to take one-year to complete.
The Kimbles have operated their chiropractic center for more than 30 years. The Kimbles' interest in this project came through their association with Arlan W. Fuhr, D.C., who had established a research collaboration with ASU. As Dr. Kimble's practice emphasizes personal injury cases, he was fascinated with the possibility of objective documentation of subtle cervical changes as a result of whiplash injuries. The Kimbles incredibly generous donation will allow the project to begin its clinical validation studies.
The project has previously received funding from Whiplash, Inc., which will be responsible for developing the project's computer graphics.
The importance of validation of chiropractic care through research has never been more vital. Research, like many other good things in life, is expensive. The magnanimity of the Kimbles is inspiring. It's a testament to the difference individuals can and do make in this world.
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."
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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?
