Projects - Center for Chiropractic Research

COVID-19 Study Recruitment

In the healthcare profession it has been an “all hands on deck” response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the chiropractic profession.

“Whether through continuing to provide chiropractic care, telehealth discussions, research or by educating patients, chiropractors have worked to serve their patients and the global community,” according to Dr. Stephanie Sullivan, director of Life University’s Center for Chiropractic Research.

Life University is working to expand the understanding of COVID-19 and chiropractic care through working with different research institutions and organizations to conduct a series of COVID-19 clinical studies. These studies are designed to evaluate the process and protocols for assessing changes in a patient’s nervous system function, viral symptoms and disease progression following two weeks of chiropractic care.

If you or someone you know has recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently showing mild symptoms of the virus, participation in the study may be an option. The study is specifically for individuals who are 45 to 75 years old who have at least one risk factor for increased disease progression. This could include such conditions as cardiovascular disease, lung disease or diabetes. The chiropractic care being provided is gentle and low force.

To learn more and see if you qualify, call 770-426-2639.

This study has been approved by the Life University Institutional Review Board, and participants could earn up to $150 for participation in one of the research studies. This clinical study will take place at on off-campus location to be shared with those who inquire and are eligible for the study.

Download PDF of study information here.

Technique Lab of the Future

Creation of a technique lab of the future will provide an entirely new and state-of-the-art methodology for the technique faculty to utilize as a part of student learning. Students can assess the force profile of the adjustment and understand the ergonomics of the adjustment. Research projects can be built around the system to help modernize technique instruction at LIFE University and demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic feedback for enhancing the motor skills required for safe, effective adjustments.

A randomized wait-list control trial evaluating the effect of team-based applied clinical neuroscience care on self-reported symptoms of depression and cerebellar function in adults with medication-resistant depression

A pilot study design that operationalizes the multimodal manner of care while evaluating changes in depression symptoms, dysmetria, and balance for medication non-responders.

Effectiveness of chiropractic care on a healthy population as assessed by balance and dual task performance analysis

A study utilizing the NeuroCom Balance System to evaluate a participant’s balance following a Chiropractic adjustment. Pre-testing, Post-testing, and 1-week post testing assessments are done.

The influence of rhetorical sensitivity on the chiropractors’ cultural authority

When communicating chiropractic to the community, it behooves the speaker to remain consciously sensitive to how each message is received by others. Unfortunately, this communication skill called ‘rhetorical sensitivity’ is not instinctual; it must be taught, trained, and developed over time. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate chiropractors’ attitudes towards communication and relate how these preferences influence the messages chiropractors currently create. This investigation will provide insights for improving chiropractors’ communication success in future engagements.

A role for chiropractic in the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome

As the opioid crisis continues, newborns are increasingly being born addicted to the same drugs and must endure withdrawal during their first few weeks of life. This circumstance is diagnosed as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). This literature review looks extensively into the current treatment options for NAS. Additionally, the literature is reviewed for publications regarding chiropractic care in infants who exhibit similar symptoms as in NAS, providing a suggestion that chiropractic may be beneficial as part of the care of infants with NAS.

Focus Group Assessment of Laboratory Assessment Challenges within a population of chiropractic students with ADHD

Study focused on individuals with ADHD who do well in classroom academic setting but have challenges and do poorly with lab testing and exams. Assessment will include focus group discussion, life inventory and neurocognitive testing. The goal is to assess specific challenges with lab testing for this population, and possible interventions that can be implemented to increase academic success and build self-confidence and self-efficacy.

Spinal flexibility and aortic pulse wave velocity

This project will help determine if spinal range of motion and thoracic stiffness have a relationship to a variety of risk factors for cardiovascular disease including heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oxygen levels, heart rate variability, and aortic pulse wave velocity.

Axial Stability Method (ASM) chiropractic care: an exploration of response to care within patient subtypes.

The purpose of this study is to determine if there are differences between patients who present with a left or right compensation of the pelvis. Assessments include surveys, balance testing, EEG, physiology recording using wrist band technology, and sensory-cognitive tasks.

Feasibility of P50 sensory gating analysis and cognitive assessment in the evaluation of cognitive efficiency post chiropractic care.

This study exams how well the brain is able to filter relevant versus non-relevant sensory information coming into the brain before and after a chiropractic adjustment.

Feasibility of synchronized EMG and movement analysis in the evaluation of the Global Assessment chiropractic protocol.

The focus of the study is to test the integration of movement and muscle activation pattern analysis equipment with force applied through use of the manual muscle test used in the Global Assessment chiropractic protocol. This will be used to evaluate changes in muscle activation response before and after a chiropractic adjustment.

Arm swing and cognitive performance.

This study will assess the changes in arm swing and cognitive performance before and after a chiropractic adjustment, while including an evaluation of inter examiner reliability.

Practice-Based Research Network: Lifetime Care Project

Research exploring aspects of chiropractic care and longevity. This initiative has two primary goals: to study the attitudes of chiropractic patients toward health and longevity, and to study the long term benefits of chiropractic care as assessed through evaluation of patient well-being.

Patient and practitioner perceptions of osteokinematics and kinetics of supine cervical spine manipulation: a pilot study

Supine cervical adjustments are performed frequently by chiropractors, and there are claims associating these adjustments with adverse events. While there is epidemiological evidence disputing such claims, there has been almost no research into the range of motion experienced by patients during supine cervical adjustments. This project tested methods for the purposes of (1) determining angular magnitudes, velocities, and accelerations during supine cervical adjustments, and (2) comparing measured values to patient and doctor perceptions.

The neurological effects of sympathizing with patients under chiropractic care

To investigate how to add the perspective of doctor patient interaction to chiropractic educational programs and to test how the tone of doctor-patient interaction influencing patient neurophysiologic measures, emotional outlook, and perception of adjustment success.

Examination of the effects of chiropractic care on resting state EEG and autism symptomatology in a pediatric autism population

Study comparing the outcomes of chiropractic adjustments on children with autism who are verbal vs non-verbal. EEG recordings will be used for the outcome measurements.

WHEEL Clinic Data Initiative

The WHEEL Clinic Data Initiative is a multi-phased approach designed to distill and study patient information collected daily within the Life University Clinic System. The initial phase includes the development of a data dictionary that will inform the development of past and future research study data needs and provide an opportunity for evaluation of data redundancy to assist in maximizing clinic efficiency.

Spinal kinematic assessment of a chiropractic performing side posture adjustments: a pilot study using motion capture system

This study was designed to describe the kinematics of lumbar side-posture adjustments (SPAs) as performed by a chiropractor. An expert in Gonstead-style adjustments performed ten right-handed SPAs, with motion tracking devices affixed on her spine and right arm. We were able to discern trends in both the speed of the doctor’s thrust, as well as the degree to which they moved. We hope this data may contribute to understanding occupational injuries or aid in proper education of students of chiropractic.

Does chiropractic care change post-stroke ADLs and brain activation patterns

Stroke, whether ischemic or hemorrhagic can culminate in devastating clinical outcomes due to differences in pathophysiological and possibly long-term cerebral and functional implications. Because of the limited research that has examined the functional outcomes between the two different stroke subgroups, the purpose of this proposed research is to evaluate the brain activation patterns and self-reported symptoms of individuals with ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke released from post-stroke rehabilitative care differentially changed following 12 weeks of care.

Effect of chiropractic care on risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is a major health concern and tackling it one condition at a time requires a considerable amount of resources and effort. This research is designed to focus on key risk factors foundational to a number of cardiovascular conditions, evaluating the underlying neurophysiologic mechanisms of action and how chiropractic can be of benefit.

Evaluation of chiropractic care on stress adaptability as assessed through resting state electroencephalography and executive function task performance.

Recent chiropractic research has shown changes in the prefrontal cortex of the brain following a chiropractic adjustment. This brain region is responsible for many higher-level cognitive functions, but it is unfortunately impacted when an individual is under considerable stress. The purpose of this research is to examine the role of chiropractic care in stress adaptability and cognitive function, while examining the effects on the prefrontal cortex as a mechanism of action.

Feasability of Atlas Orthogonal chiropractic care for in-patient traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Dr. Patrick Gallagher has been working with in-patient traumatic brain injury patients and has observed positive results following care. This study seeks to document the care of five individuals using brain-based electroencephalography and cognitive assessments.