Presented to the NCC on behalf of M. Ram Gudavalli, PhD, principal investigator for the project, the grant funding will be allocated over three years. Dr. Gudavalli received his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, and his MS in engineering from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He joined the NCC research department faculty in 1989.
The goal of the project, "Biomechanics of Flexion-Distraction Therapy," is to describe with quantitative data the biomechanical events that occur in the spine during flexion-distraction. The procedure is based on the hypothesis that during flexion-distraction, vertebral displacements occur and provide increased foramina space so that neural elements are decompressed.
The project will also provide information on defining the limits of safety for flexion-distration, particularly for patients with degenerative disks and ligaments. Ultimately these data will assist clinicians in the appropriateness of flexion-distration for particular patients and to assist investigator in designing efficacy trials.
The investigators acknowledged the financial assistance from numerous chiropractic physicians and organizations who contributed to the preliminary studies that lead to the grant: James M. Cox, DC, DACBR (Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research through Practice Consultants Clinical Research Center); members of NCC's postgraduate faculty; William Harris, DC (Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic); Mark Lorenz, MD, clinical associate professor (Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine); A.G. Patwardhan, PhD (professor at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and director of Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Hines VA Hospital in Maywood, Illinois; and Williams Healthcare systems.
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