While chiropractic services are commonly utilised by young Australians, the role of chiropractic care in the evaluation, management, and treatment of young patients remains highly contentious. There is a paucity of high-quality research that both describes the clinical characteristics of chiropractic care of young Australians, and the reasons young patients seek chiropractic care. We need to understand which young Australians are seeing chiropractors, and why they are seeing chiropractors. This study aims to inform the design and conduct of a large-scale health services research project that observes the clinical encounters between chiropractors and young patients. This study will establish important dimensions of feasibility (recruitment and data collection methods) that are required to demonstrate capability and track record, which enhance the team’s chances of securing national competitive research funding. Once the nature of young patient and chiropractor healthcare encounters are established in a definitive study, future effectiveness research can be focused, and research evidence can inform ‘best practice’ guidelines and ‘core competencies’ for both graduating and specialising chiropractors.

Amber Beynon and Mike Swain

More than 2,500 chiropractors have graduated from Macquarie University; it is the oldest and largest chiropractic program in Australia. Graduates of Macquarie University are highly competent and move into the workforce as confident and successful chiropractors. Many of our graduates are accomplished individuals who provide their community with highly valuable healthcare.

Research allows a creative and systematic increase in knowledge. It is an essential part of today’s healthcare landscape, and chiropractic research includes advances in both basic and clinical research. However, what our profession needs are competitive funds to support chiropractic academics that provide their profession with high quality research.

In response to this need, the Chiropractic Alumni (tCa) and Macquarie University have established a fund for Chiropractic Research: The Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund. The Sydney College of Chiropractic (SCC) via its graduate interface association – The Chiropractic Alumni (tCa), will financially contribute to the Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund to foster undergraduate and higher degree chiropractic research at Macquarie University. The fund will provide financial support for competitively awarded research projects and scholarships.

On 25th August 2018, the tCa will publicly launch the Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund. The launch will coincide with the appointment of Dr. Simon French as the first Macquarie University, Department of Chiropractic Professor of Musculoskeletal Disorders.

The future of the Department of Chiropractic at Macquarie University and the profession is reliant on building research capacity. The SCC and tCa are committed to providing Macquarie University academics with resources that will benefit the profession, community and patients well into the future. In supporting a talented and skilled research department, led by Professor French, we believe the Chiropractic Research Department at Macquarie University will become a strong and successful stakeholder in healthcare research.

It is now time for chiropractors to commit to supporting the chiropractic profession through the Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund. As a key member of the chiropractic profession, your support in attending, and encouraging other practitioners to attend the launch is vital. Your financial support will contribute to success of the Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund, and leave a legacy for future generations of chiropractors.

As Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, I welcome and support the establishment of the Macquarie Chiropractic Research Fund, co-funded by the Chiropractic Alumni and Macquarie University.

The fund will further enhance the existing research capability of the Department of Chiropractic at Macquarie University, strengthening our evidence based research and expanding our knowledge through basic and clinical research. This research will further demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic medicine as a key part of care of the health of Australians.

I am delighted at the announcement of the arrival of Dr Simon French who will join the “Macquarie Team” on 25 August 2018 as the first Macquarie University, Department of Chiropractic Professor of Musculoskeletal Disorders. Professor French will add considerable bench strength in supporting an established and talented research team with the aim of strengthening and expanding Macquarie University healthcare research.

Professor Barbara Messerle

 It comes as no surprise to anyone that the world has changed in every way since my chiropractic student days. Back then, as students, we were recruited to help paint the building or help with odd jobs that needed doing, including the expansion of the chiropractic library etc. etc. It was a natural progression for us to then go on to join the chiropractic SCC financial army; to raise funds for the purchase of a teaching clinic, by contributing to a building fund after graduation. We all did this with such a sense of pride and belonging. I still drive past the old Summer Hill College building and wonder how my painting stood up to the test of time. 

Here we are decades later, watching the profession evolve and strengthen its foothold in the healthcare system. The assistance that is now required is no longer physical manpower nor financial support to purchase real estate. Rather the financial assistance now required is to help attain the research vision of the Department: “to improve the musculoskeletal health of the community”. In order to do this, high quality and impactful research must be a priority. Similarly to the Medical Research Council that promotes and supports medical research, we are now seeking your help to support chiropractic research. 

Please consider investing in high quality chiropractic research in order to build research capability and support chiropractic researchers to improve their capacity to benefit the health outcomes of the community. 

 Rosemary Giuriato – Chiropractor, Head of Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University 

We need to intensify research efforts in all areas of musculoskeletal health and chiropractors can play an important role. But there is no research without funding, it is that simple. Therefore the Macquarie University Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund is an important initiative that can help develop and maintain high-level research at a department and university that clearly have ambitions in this area. I applaud this initiative and encourage people to support it.

Jan Hartvigsen, Professor of Clnicial Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Senior Researcher Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics- University of Southern Denmark 

All Chiropractors are driven to a career of service, either directly to our patients, to the profession or society as a whole. We do this different ways, clinically, academically or being involved in our local communities. As a teacher of 30 plus years I have always aimed to motivate and inspire students to be the best they can be. We as a profession are at an important cross road where we must take the vital step to maintaining education at a university level and improve our academic status and research capacity.

I urge all my colleagues to strongly consider donating to the Chiropractic Research Fund to foster research and create solid foundations and infrastructure for future stabilisation and professional growth. It is the time for action as words no longer suffice. I will be contributing.

Stephen Esposito- Chiropractor, Lecturer at Macquarie University, Department of Chiropractic

“Chiropractic as a profession faces many challenges as it progresses and grows as an integral part of the allied health network in Australia and worldwide. Fundamental to meeting these challenges is to reinforce our legitimacy at every turn by documenting our effectiveness as a profession for improving the health, quality of life and wellbeing of our patients. Closer to home the core legitimacy of the chiropractic course at Macquarie University has been challenged in recent times and may be again in the future. Chiropractic research ultimately assists every chiropractor to improve their effectiveness and standard of care while also helping to secure the future of the profession.”

Scott Philipson BSc, GradDip Chiro, MEngSc
Author: spinal Adjusting Technique: The Chiropractic Art
Contract Lecturer in chiropractic technique Macquarie University

Growing up in the suburbs of Wollongong (Bulli), I didn’t know much about chiropractic except as an infrequent patient when my ‘balance was off’ – my mother used to visit our local chiropractor for relief from migraine headaches. At university, I initially studied engineering (cadetship with BHP), but soon became interested in health care, which led me to begin chiropractic classes at Henson Street, Summer Hill (graduating class of 1994).

During my time as a chiropractic student, creating research evidence to support what/when/how we treated was not foremost in my mind. I graduated with the simple mantra “listen to your patients, adjust them well, and watch them improve”.

After graduation, further evidence to support my own version of best practice came from seminars where master presenters would reveal the ‘secrets’ of patient management. Before long I became frustrated with this approach to evidence, and after arguments with local (high-volume) chiropractors who regarded frequent and continual passive care as best practice, I decided to go back to University to teach part-time. My goal was to create the research that would inform the best clinical decisions and maintain our status as leaders in health care. I completed my Masters Philosophy at MQU in 2011, and am presently in a PhD program through University of Sydney. I continue to practice on a part-time basis.

My ten (short) years of research activity has taught me that to create evidence that will ultimately inform practice requires a dedicated team of experienced researchers, and large competitive grants to fund the research – often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Typically, junior (early career) researchers don’t begin with the luxury of large grant monies, so the first step is to begin small research projects with the help of seed-funding, whilst collaborating within experienced research teams. After this, opportunities to join larger impactful research projects may follow.

Large funding bodies (for example, the NHMRC) do not provide assistance for small projects, but the chiropractic profession can. There is an opportunity here where chiropractors may contribute financially toward research projects undertaken by early career researchers that would otherwise not commence due to lack of seed-funding.

It is an exciting time to be a part of the Department of Chiropractic at Macquarie University. There are more opportunities than ever before for researchers (and clinicians returning to research) to expand the evidence for this profession: to become the evidence based leader in spine care it deserves to be. Your financial support will help to make this a reality.

Aron Downie BSc.MChiro.MPhil

As Chiropractors, we KNOW that patients have wonderful positive results to our care, and word of mouth used to be enough to generate confidence in potential clients but “times they are a changing”. In this day and age what is on the internet and in print is what future patients want to see before they commit to care. This is just one of the many reasons that current research is SO important for the future of our profession. Lets get behind the “Alumni’s” drive to fund research at Macquarie to allow our profession to continue to grow and thrive well into the future.

Sonya Fogerty- Chair of the Department of Chiropractic Advisory board and former lecturer and Deputy Head of Department

The success of the chiropractic profession for the last 123 years has largely been the result of the clinical effectiveness of the spinal adjustment for a diverse range of health  issues delivered by individuals who are committed and passionate to what they do. The last 35 years has seen research slowly emerge to defend and support our underline principles. However, now more than ever, verification through evidence is required to reinforce the empirical observations we have so long taken for granted. The Alumni Research fund will be formally launched on 25 August 2018 for the purposes of supplying additional  funding for the research needed to further stamp our cultural and professional authority in spinal healthcare and related areas. Please join us at the launch and consider contributing to the fund. It’s an investment in our future and every bit will count.

Dr John Kelly- former Principal Sydney College of Chiropractic

I wish to pledge my personal endorsement for the above Fund; encompassing graduates of Sydney College of Chiropractic (SCC) and Macquarie University (MU). In reflection, of the sentiments expressed via the Sydney College of Chiropractic and the Chiropractic Alumni for graduates of SCC and MU in the public launch of the appointment of the Professor of Musculoskeletal Disorders. Chiropractic must remain at the forefront of neuro-musculoskeletal health research as a leading cause of global morbidity and suffering. 

I am confident of the future success of this initiative and offer my ongoing support in view of future fine outcomes for humanity.

Joseph Ierano BSc DC Former President CAA – NSW Branch

“All efforts to enhance the quality and volume of research performed by chiropractors should be generously supported and Dr. O’Reilly’s appeal for funds to assist research and researchers at Macquarie is an important development. Macquarie University’s chiropractic programme should be recognised by everyone as the source of some of the finest research achievements that any chiropractic programme has presented at the WFC’s Research Symposium over many years. A Chair in chiropractic related research at Macquarie is not unattainable and certainly it would be a well deserved outcome for that university’s efforts in this imperative aspect of the profession’s professionalisation process in Australia.”

Dr. John Sweaney- Former Executive Director CAA (National) and former President World Federation of Chiropractic

“The Macquarie University Alumni Research Fund is an example of how the chiropractic profession can meet its obligation to commit to funding research. I commend this initiative to you and ask that you consider financially supporting this program. Historically the chiropractic profession has not done nearly enough to fund research and support those that undertake it. Now is the time to change this legacy.”

Warren Genders- CAAN Treasurer and former CAA WA President

For years there have been many myths about the art of spinal manipulation and what is actually happening in the spine, continue reading to find out the truth!
Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) involves specific positioning of the patient’s body and a specific movement (direction, magnitude of force and amplitude) by the practitioner. In the spine, manipulative therapy most directly affects the facet joints (NOT DISCS), which are synovial joints that allow our spine to move in all three planes of motion (sagittal, frontal & transverse). Like other synovial joints, the facet joints contain synovial fluid and are surrounded by a fibrous joint capsule composed of connective tissue.
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The facet joints are often thought to be a source of pain and often respond quite well to various forms of joint mobilization. What you should know, however, is that the popping sound (Cavitation) you hear when having your spine manipulated/adjusted is nothing more than a pressure change in the facet joints, just like popping the joints of your hands. It has NOTHING to do with correcting the alignment of the spine. Any practitioner who claims otherwise and tries to convince you that “regular adjustment” treatments are necessary to maintain proper spinal alignment is simply not reading the research or more interested in their bank account than your health. There is no scientific evidence to say that a spine can physiologically be “out” and by manipulating it will “put it back in”. The more appropriate evidence is that your facet joints are affected causing you pain and stiffness and by performing a cavitation on those joints decreases pressure allowing you short term pain relief and improved range of motion.
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At the end of the day, research has demonstrated time and time again that manipulative therapy can be helpful, but the effects are largely short-lived. We as university trained physiotherapists do use manipulation as a treatment technique for short term pain relief and quick improvement in range of motion BUT A long-term recovery program should focus more on active interventions like exercise (walking), strengthening (pilates, resistance training) and modifying the factors that have caused you pain and stiffness in the first place, as these have much more evidence in terms of promoting long-term positive outcomes in both function and pain and cost effectiveness.

References
📚Bialosky JE, et al. The Mechanisms of Manual Therapy in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Comprehensive Model. Manual Therapy. 2009.
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📚Babatunde OO, et al. Effective treatment options for musculoskeletal pain in primary care: A systematic overview of current evidence. PLoS One. 2017. 

Leonie Egan (McMahon)

Delivering high quality research to underpin clinical practice is essential to the survival of chiropractic within a competitive healthcare world. Conducting this research is only possible when research funds are available to do so. Please join me in attending and supporting the launch of the Macquarie Chiropractic Alumni Research Fund to help secure a brighter future for our profession. 

Craig Moore- PhD Candidate, Fellow – Chiropractic Academy of Research Leadership (CARL)

“I congratulate the initiative of the M.U. Chiro Alumni Research Fund and in the securement of Dr Simon French the inaugural Professor of Musculoskeletal Disorders within the Dept of Chiro at M.U. It is essential that we remain relevant to the community we serve. Ensuring high level research capability and literacy is crucial, necessary and of the utmost importance in remaining relevant and valued. I applaud this initiative which must be supported.”

Phillip R. Donato OAM, BAppSc (Chiropractic) CCSP, FICC, FACC Chairman, Chiropractic Board of Australia; Director, Council on Chiropractic Education International
Adelaide SA

Being in practice for approx 50 years, I have seen and treated a great variety of conditions in all ages and body types. In the early days the practise of chiropractic was mainly based on natural talent, ability and experience.

 In today’s world, health professions need scientific evidence based research to support their practitioners in the field as well as give the community confidence whenever they seek diagnosis and management of their health problems. 

The chiropractic profession and the practise of chiropractic is no exception. Today chiropractic needs to validate its practises and collaborate with the scientific community in order to be recognised as a bona fide health care professional, being the experts in their field. 

It has been 28 years since chiropractic education began at Macquarie University. In that time the Department of Chiropractic has matured to produce some of the best researchers within the chiropractic profession. 

However any worthwhile research is time consuming and requires financial support. Chiropractic research now requires that financial impetus to establish the scientific rationale to support the art and philosophy of the practise of chiropractic. 

Research has to emanate from within the profession. Its time to prove our efficacy by scientific validation. If we do not financially support our researchers, the day may come when others in the various health professions will do it and own it. 

Quality chiropractic research is a necessity for the continued development of this great profession therefore I commend the TcA Scholarship Research Appeal to everybody who is associated with the chiropractic profession in Australia.

Ed Devereaux AM (ND ’71 ANH, DC DO ’72 SCO&C, DipAc ’72 HK, Hon DSc ‘12 Macq) FICC, FACC.

 “I urge you to support the Sydney College / Macquarie Uni Alumni Research Fund. With the appointment of Professor French this is our chance to enable quality research into chiropractic.”

Ken McAviney DC DO, Former Chair Advisory Board to Dept. Chiropractic, former Chair and Clinic Head of the SCC

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