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Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Vining, R; Long, CR; Minkalis, A; Gudavalli, MR; Xia, T; Walter, J; Coulter, I; Goertz, CM
Published in: J Altern Complement Med
July 2020

Objectives: To investigate whether chiropractic care influences strength, balance, and/or endurance in active-duty United States military personnel with low back pain (LBP). Design: This study employed a prospective randomized controlled trial using a pragmatic treatment approach. Participants were randomly allocated to 4 weeks of chiropractic care or to a wait-list control. Interventions: Chiropractic care consisted of spinal manipulation, education, advice, and reassurance. Settings/Location: Naval Air Technical Training Center branch clinic at the Naval Hospital Pensacola Florida. Subjects: One hundred ten active-duty military personnel 18-40 years of age with self-reported LBP. Outcome measures: Isometric pulling strength from a semisquat position was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were single-leg balance with eyes open and eyes closed, and trunk muscle endurance using the Biering-Sorensen test. Patient-reported outcomes such as pain severity and disability were also measured. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 4 weeks. Linear mixed-effects regression models over baseline and 4 weeks were used for analysis. Results: Participants had mean age of 30 years (18-40), 17% were female, 33% were non-white, and 86% reported chronic LBP. Mean maximum pulling strength in the chiropractic group increased by 5.08 kgs and decreased by 7.43 kgs in the wait-list group, with a statistically significant difference in mean change between groups (p = 0.003). Statistically significant differences in mean change between groups were also observed in trunk muscle endurance (13.9 sec, p = 0.002) and balance with eyes closed (0.47 sec, p = 0.01), but not in balance with eyes open (1.19 sec, p = 0.43). Differences in mean change between groups were statistically significant in favor of chiropractic for LBP-related disability, pain intensity and interference, and fear-avoidance behavior. Conclusions: Active-duty military personnel receiving chiropractic care exhibited improved strength and endurance, as well as reduced LBP intensity and disability, compared with a wait-list control.

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Published In

J Altern Complement Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7708

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

26

Issue

7

Start / End Page

592 / 601

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Postural Balance
  • Physical Endurance
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Pain Management
  • Muscle Strength
  • Mind-Body Therapies
  • Military Personnel
 

Citation

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Vining, R., Long, C. R., Minkalis, A., Gudavalli, M. R., Xia, T., Walter, J., … Goertz, C. M. (2020). Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med, 26(7), 592–601. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0107
Vining, Robert, Cynthia R. Long, Amy Minkalis, M Ram Gudavalli, Ting Xia, Joan Walter, Ian Coulter, and Christine M. Goertz. “Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.J Altern Complement Med 26, no. 7 (July 2020): 592–601. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0107.
Vining R, Long CR, Minkalis A, Gudavalli MR, Xia T, Walter J, et al. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Jul;26(7):592–601.
Vining, Robert, et al. “Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.J Altern Complement Med, vol. 26, no. 7, July 2020, pp. 592–601. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/acm.2020.0107.
Vining R, Long CR, Minkalis A, Gudavalli MR, Xia T, Walter J, Coulter I, Goertz CM. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Jul;26(7):592–601.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Altern Complement Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7708

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

26

Issue

7

Start / End Page

592 / 601

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Postural Balance
  • Physical Endurance
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Pain Management
  • Muscle Strength
  • Mind-Body Therapies
  • Military Personnel