Progress on back-related leg pain study is well underway

January 16, 2009 — The study on chiropractic and self-care for back-related leg pain (BRLP), being conducted by the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies at Northwestern Health Sciences University, has recruited nearly 90 percent of its patient volunteers. According to Roni Evans, DC, MS, dean of research at Northwestern, 173 of the approximately 200 volunteers have been recruited.

The study, which is being conducted under the leadership of Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD, vice president of research, and Craig Schulz, DC, MS, clinical research faculty, began recruiting participants in May 2007. It is funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for approximately $2.4 million. “Our goal is to finish recruitment by May 2009, and complete the long-term follow-up on all patients by June 2010,” says Dr. Schulz.

According to Dr. Schulz, this is a two-site study with recruitment, treatment, and data collection occurring at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies and at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, with 2/3 of the patients being treated at Northwestern and 1/3 at Palmer. In addition, Palmer also serves as the data coordinating center for both sites. Participants must be 21 years of age or older and have had back-related leg pain for at least four weeks.

Source: Northwestern Health Sciences University, www.nwhealth.edu/nwtoday/index.html