What does chiropractic have in common with research at Yale, the University of Chicago and the University of Texas? What about research conducted in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Spain and China? What is common to each of these institutions and countries is that they have been or are currently engaged in collaborative research with the Parker Research Institute at Parker College of Chiropractic. The theme of the 2006 ACC-RAC conference is collaboration, and collaboration has been the recent hallmark of Parker's research efforts.
There was a time not long ago when chiropractic research was considered an oxymoron by much of the biomedical community. This was not because of lack of interest in research, but rather the limited infrastructure, financial means and skilled research scientists. Serious medical research centers had no interest in joint research with the chiropractic profession. Today, things have changed - and in a big way. Not only has the profession developed some serious research infrastructure, but there also has blossomed a small cadre of highly qualified and respected researchers.
We are only five years into the new century, but during that time, the Parker Research Institute has established a network of research partners within the chiropractic profession and the medical community, locally, nationally and abroad. One of the profession's leading research teams at Parker produces some of the nation's best research in neurophysiology. Xuejun Song, MD, PhD, heads the neurophysiology research efforts. In January 2006, he and his team published a joint paper with the University of Texas Medical Center at Houston.1 In 2005, he published a joint paper with the University of Chicago,2 and in 2003, a joint paper with Yale University School of Medicine.3 Six of the peer-reviewed publications by the institute in 2005 were collaborative research efforts.2,4-8
However, the emphasis is not quantity at the expense of quality. The fact that Parker conducts research with highly respected institutions, and that the resulting papers are published in journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Pain, The Journal of Neurophysiology, JMPT and others speaks volumes to the quality issue. At the 2005 World Federation of Chiropractic Conference in Sydney, Australia, one of the studies produced by Dr. Song's team was awarded first place for the best scientific paper.12
Collaborative efforts exist to some extent at other chiropractic colleges, but it has been one of the prime strategies at the Parker Research Institute to capitalize on collaborative funding of mutually beneficial studies. Chiropractic institutions continue to have very limited resources, and with the willingness of nonchiropractic institutions to collaborate, it is no longer necessary for us to provide all of the labor and related funding. Collaborative studies also serve to expose the medical community to the serious commitment the chiropractic profession has to research. They foster a mutual respect and provide a forum to educate other health providers. There is tremendous potential for future collaboration, and the profession must continue to exploit all opportunities at local, national and international levels.
Parker Research Collaborations
Recent Collaborative Publications
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?
