What do patients think? Results of a mixed methods pilot study assessing sciatica patients' interpretations of satisfaction and improvement.

Background: Little is known about the issues low back pain patients take into account when deciding their satisfaction with care, the importance placed on such satisfaction, or the factors they consider when assessing their overall improvement.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore these issues and to assess the feasibility of implementing qualitative research methods within a clinical trial.

Methods: Study participants were volunteers taking part in a randomized clinical pilot study comparing nonsurgical treatments for sciatica.

A pilot study for a randomized clinical trial assessing chiropractic care, medical care, and self-care education for acute and subacute neck pain patients.

Objective: To conduct a pilot study in preparation for a full-scale randomized clinical trial assessing conservative treatments for acute and subacute neck pain. Study design Prospective, randomized pilot study.

Setting: Primary contact chiropractic and medical clinics.

Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review.

Background: Chronic headache is a prevalent condition with substantial socioeconomic impact. Complementary or alternative therapies are increasingly being used by patients to treat headache pain, and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is among the most common of these.

Objective: To assess the efficacy/effectiveness of SMT for chronic headache through a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study.

Objectives: The first objective was to determine if chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in addition to optimal medical management resulted in clinically important changes in asthma-related outcomes in children. The second objective was to assess the feasibility of conducting a full-scale, randomized clinical trial in terms of recruitment, evaluation, treatment, and ability to deliver a sham SMT procedure.

Study Design: Prospective clinical case series combined with an observer-blinded, pilot randomized clinical trial with a 1-year follow-up period.

Nonoperative treatments for sciatica: a pilot study for a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of patient recruitment, the ability of patients and clinicians to comply with study protocols, and the use of data collection instruments to collect cost-effectiveness data, and to obtain variability estimates for sample-size calculations for a full-scale trial.

Study Design: Prospective, observer-blinded, pilot randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Primary contact chiropractic and medical clinics.

Effects of orthotic intervention and nine holes of simulated golf on club-head velocity in experienced golfers.

Objective: This study was an initial investigation evaluating the effects of orthotic intervention on club-head velocity (CHV) among a group of experienced golfers before and after 9 holes of simulated golf.

Setting: Northwestern College of Chiropractic, Bloomington, Minnesota.

Participants: Twelve experienced golfers were included in the study.

Responsiveness of general health status in chronic low back pain: a comparison of the COOP charts and the SF-36.

The objective of this study was to compare the responsiveness and assess the concurrent validity of two functional health status instruments, the Dartmouth COOP charts and the SF-36 in chronic low-back pain (CLBP) patients. The data came from 129 of 174 patients who participated in a randomized clinical trial of the therapeutic management of CLBP. Reliable and valid disease-specific outcomes, patient-rated low-back pain and disability, were used as external criteria (EC) to identify improved and non-improved patients.

Spinal manipulation: current state of research and its indications.

Based on the most recent and comprehensive systematic reviews, there is moderate evidence of short-term efficacy for spinal manipulation in the treatment of both acute and chronic low back pain. There is insufficient data available to draw conclusions regarding the efficacy for lumbar radiculopathy. The evidence is also not conclusive for the long-term efficacy of spinal manipulation for any type of low back pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: conservative and nonconservative treatment. A chiropractic physician's perspective.

Objective: To discuss the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) including indications for referral to medical evaluation and/or comanagement.

Data Source: More than 200 articles published in the health care literature from 1963 to 1997 and indexed on Medline concerning conservative and surgical intervention for CTS. Indexing terms used were "Carpal Tunnel," combined with keywords "Conservative" and "Surgery.

Effects of nine holes of simulated golf and orthotic intervention on balance and proprioception in experienced golfers.

Objective: To investigate effects of orthotic intervention on balance and proprioception among a group of experienced golfers.

Setting: Northwestern College of Chiropractic.

Participants: Twelve experienced golfers were included in the study.

A holistic approach to severe headache symptoms in a patient unresponsive to regional manual therapy.

Objective: To discuss the case of a patient suffering from severe headache complaints who was previously unresponsive to regional cervical spine care.

Clinical Features: A prodrome was described. In addition to headache itself, associated symptoms included light sensitivity, blurred vision and nausea.

The practice of chiropractic in South Dakota: a survey of chiropractors.

Objective: To identify the professional and demographic characteristics of the chiropractors in South Dakota.

Design: Mail survey that covered four major areas: 1) demographics of the chiropractors, 2) population served, 3) factors influencing the economic aspects of the practice, and 4) practice characteristics. A reminder was sent 1 month following the first mailing.