ACA member to oversee largest clinical trial of chiropractic

February 22, 2011 — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) announced that ACA member and research consultant Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, will oversee the design and implementation of the three clinical trials funded by a $7.4 million grant awarded to scientists at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR), the RAND Corporation and the Samueli Institute by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

The grant will fund a four-year research project to assess chiropractic treatment for military readiness in active-duty personnel. This is the largest single award for a chiropractic research project in the history of the profession and will be used to conduct the largest clinical trial evaluating chiropractic care to date.

The grant comes after a 2010 report from the Veterans Health Administration which found that more than half of all veterans returning from the Middle East and Southwest Asia who have sought Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare were treated for symptoms associated with musculoskeletal ailments — the top complaint of those tracked for the report. Through three clinical trials, the study will assess the efficacy of chiropractic care for active duty military personnel in the following areas:

• Low back pain relief and improved function in active-duty troops
• Evaluating the effects of chiropractic care on reflexes and reaction times for Special Operations forces
• Determining the effect of chiropractic care on strength, balance and injury prevention for members of the Armed Forces with combat specialties
• Assessing the impact of chiropractic care on smoking cessation in military service members.

Goertz has vast experience and expertise in the area of integrative healthcare research. She currently serves as vice chancellor for research and health policy at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Previously, she served as deputy director of the Samueli Institute and as a program officer for NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

In addition, Goertz serves as chair of ACA’s Performance Measures Work Group and is a member of the association’s Health Promotion and Wellness Committee.

“Our men and women in uniform deserve better than relying on prescription drugs and invasive surgery,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “This research project is a major step toward ensuring that members of the military receive the best health care available, including chiropractic care.”

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org