SCU faculty member presents new research

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) faculty member Robb Russell, DC, presented new study findings at the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The international congress brings together experts from around the world to share emerging evidence and collaborate on approaches that strengthen global health and patient care. Russell attended alongside fellow SCU faculty members Anu Kizhakkeveettil, PhD, BAMS, MAOM, LAc, FAIHM, C-IAYT , Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT, and Leah Grout, PhD, MPH. His presentation shared results from a recently completed SCU-led study that contributes new insights into how inflammatory back pain may present in chiropractic primary-care settings, an SCU press release noted.

Expand understanding of inflammatory back pain

At the congress, Russell presented findings from the study “The proportion of abnormal pelvis MRI findings in patients presenting for chiropractic care with possible inflammatory back pain.”

Principal investigator Emmanual Katsaros, DO, from Western University of Health Sciences, senior investigator Michael Weisman, MD, from Stanford University, and radiologist Xenofon Baraliakos, MD, from Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany, collaborated with SCU co-authors Moonaz, Melissa Nagare, DC, LAc,CC SP, and Hector Rivera-Melo, DC, DACBR, in this project, which examined how frequently MRI abnormalities appear among patients who visit chiropractic clinics with symptoms suggestive of inflammatory back pain—specifically, potential early indicators of axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA).

Why the research matters

According to Russell, delayed diagnosis is common in axSpA, often because:

Chronic back pain is widespread,
Symptoms may appear early but are subtle,
Non-rheumatology providers may be less familiar with the condition, and
Radiographs can miss early-stage inflammatory changes.

The study aimed to determine how often sacroiliac joint MRIs show abnormalities in a primary-care chiropractic population where patients had experienced inflammatory back pain symptoms for more than three months.

Key findings from the study

Previous research suggested that roughly one-third of patients screened for inflammatory back pain show abnormal sacroiliac MRI findings—but those studies focused on pre-screened populations, not general primary-care environments.

SCU’s study found:

13.3% of patients had abnormal sacroiliac joint MRI findings suggestive of axSpA
Over 90% of patients self-referred for chiropractic care, reducing pre-selection bias
The prevalence likely reflects what may be found in other U.S. primary-care settings

These findings offer a more realistic picture of how common early inflammatory changes may be in everyday clinical practice.

Surprising MRI patterns

Russell shared that their team did not observe the higher rates reported in previous studies, which confirms that earlier data may have reflected pre-selected, higher-risk groups.

Another unexpected finding was that 13% of subjects exibited fihndings suggestive of inflammatory changes of the hips.

The SCU study instead provides a more generalizable understanding that can aid front-line clinicians.

Practical takeaways for providers

Russell emphasized a key message:

“Sacroiliac joint and hip MRI abnormalities were frequent in a youthful population screened for inflammatory back pain symptoms and could represent undiagnosed spondyloarthropathy.”

Early identification of these findings may help reduce diagnostic delays, ensuring patients receive appropriate care and referral.

Future directions: Continuing SCU’s research momentum

Russell shared that two follow-up projects are already underway:

Comparing MRI interpretations
- The research team is analyzing differences between community radiologists and expert readers to better understand diagnostic consistency.
Following patients with abnormal MRI findings
- Researchers will contact patients from the study to determine whether symptoms persist and whether formal diagnoses of spondyloarthropathy have been made.

He also noted that larger, future studies could explore the clinical significance of abnormal sacroiliac or hip MRI findings in young adults. Such work may require expanded screening—including both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals—and additional funding.

Sharing SCU research expertise globally

During the congress, Russell was also invited to lecture chiropractic students at Centro Universitário Gama e Souza (UNIGAMA) in Rio de Janeiro. The visit coincided with World Spine Day 2025 and offered an opportunity to engage with students eager to learn about integrative approaches to musculoskeletal care.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to spend part of World Spine Day with such delightful students and faculty members,” said Russell.

About Southern California University of Health Sciences

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is one of the world’s only integrative, whole health universities — preparing students to blend the best of conventional medicine with proven complementary approaches, and to treat the whole person (body, mind and spirit). Founded in 1911 as one of the nation’s very first chiropractic colleges, SCU has been challenging convention and pushing healthcare forward since the very beginning. Today, the institution offers graduate, undergraduate and certificate programs in a wide range of disciplines, including Chiropractic, Sports Medicine, Physical/Occupational Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Genetics and Genomics, Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Ayurveda, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Whole Health Leadership and beyond. Learn more at scuhs.edu.