Life was approved last year by a World Health Organization (WHO) committee as the only worldwide coordinating chiropractic center included in the study, and as the data collection site for the entire international project. Other participating study sites around the world are testing a multitude of disciplines, both traditional treatments and alternative methods of care. The international participating centers are in Moscow, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Vancouver, and Semarang (Indonesia). These centers will send their results to Life for compilation.
The double-blinded study at Life will test 150 patients with subacute back pain, divided into three groups of 50: one group is given an adjustment and placebo medication; one group is given medication and a placebo adjustments; the third is give two placebos.
The researchers are examining volunteers with low back pain lasting more than one week, but less than four weeks, and who are between 21 and 59 years of age. The study excludes chronic patients who have recurring back pain, or any who have had another episode of back pain in the past 18 months.
Initially projected to take six months, the study may take two years because of the "pain window" being sought in the patients. "Many people who develop back pain will start to feel better within two weeks, whether they seek a health professional or not," noted Bruce Pfleger, PhD, director of Life's Research Center. "This makes it difficult to determine if a particular intervention is effective when administered immediately after onset of pain. By waiting two weeks before providing care in this study, we eliminate most of the patients who would have gotten better on their own."
Life has thus far tested 14 volunteers. Once 30 patients have been tested, it may be possible to project the results and shorten the length of the study, said project director Dr. Kathryn Hoiriis. To recruit more patients for its segment of the study, Life is placing ads in the local media and airing public service announcements.
Editor's note: Back patients in the Marietta, Georgia area who wish to volunteer in the study can schedule interviews by calling project director Dr. Kathryn Hoiriis at (770) 426-2636.
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