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

Authors

Robert Vining, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport
Cynthia R. Long, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport
Amy Minkalis, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport
M. Ram Gudavalli, Keiser University
Ting Xia, Northern Illinois University
Joan Walter, Samueli Integrative Health Programs
Ian Coulter, RAND Corporation
Christine M. Goertz, Duke University School of Medicine

Author ORCID Identifier

Ting Xia:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4113-1050

Publication Title

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

ISSN

10755535

E-ISSN

44026

Document Type

Article

Abstract

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.

First Page

592

Last Page

601

Publication Date

7-1-2020

DOI

10.1089/acm.2020.0107

PubMed ID

32543211

Keywords

chiropractic, low back pain, muscle strength, physical endurance, postural balance, spinal manipulation

Recommended Citation

Vining, Robert; Long, Cynthia R.; Minkalis, Amy; Gudavalli, M. Ram; Xia, Ting; Walter, Joan; Coulter, Ian; and Goertz, Christine M., "Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial" (2020). NIU Bibliography. 475.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/niubib/475

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering