measurINg forceS durInG cHiropractic Treatment

measurINg forceS durInG cHiropractic Treatment (INSIGHT): A Single-Arm Clinical Case Series

The INSIGHT pilot study will measure forces applied by a doctor of chiropractic (DC) during the delivery of a specific, manually based chiropractic treatment for participants with low back pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is a well-recognized health problem. One common manual therapy available for the treatment of LBP is spinal manipulation (SM), which can be separated into 2 categories: High-Velocity Low-Amplitude (thrust) and Low-Velocity (non-thrust) SM according to their force-delivery profiles. One commonly utilized non-thrust SM technique is the Flexion-Distraction procedure. Several studies have reported manually applied forces during thrust SM; however, the forces used during non-thrust SM, specifically those used with Flexion-Distraction treatment are still unknown. The results of this pilot study will provide preliminary information on treatment forces and sample size justification for future full-scale trials, while also ascertaining the feasibility of the study protocol and patient recruitment methods for such trials.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to demonstrate the necessary abilities (English language, literacy) needed to provide informed consent without the assistance of another person (e.g., a proxy, spouse, family member or other support person)
• Self-reported low back pain (acute, subacute or chronic) at the time of examination and enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Weight > 300lbs
• Spinal Pathology or conditions contraindicating study procedures or compromising participant safety
• Inflammatory arthropathy involving the spine (e.g. Ankylosing spondylitis, Rheumatoid arthritis)
• Spinal fracture in the past 6 months
• Other conditions requiring referral (e.g. self-reporting alcohol/substance dependence or abuse, unstable spinal segments, and cauda equina syndrome)
• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next 5 weeks
• Unable to tolerate study procedures safely
• Altered Mental Capacity
• Sensitivity to adhesives used in the study
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Co-morbidity requiring simultaneous clinical management that compromises ability to deliver study procedures or assess the participant's heath status or poses as a scheduling burden
• Retention of legal advice or seeking a health-related insurance claim
• Compliance concerns (e.g. scheduling conflicts, moving from the quad city area, unwilling to undergo required study procedures or receive treatment from study doctor(s))
• Quebec Task Force Classification of 10 or 11: (chronic pain syndrome, visceral/infectious source of LBP)