National University of Health Sciences enjoyed the initial HRSA grants regarding flexion-distraction. Under the guidance of Dr. Gudavalli, the first biomechanical study was done with Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, University of Illinois, Hines VA Hospital staff, and AuburnUniversity graduate student program.
The second study was a clinical comparison study of low back pain patients cared for with chiropractic flexion-distraction versus medical physical therapy treatment conducted at National University of Health Sciences withLoyolaStritchSchool of Medicine. The third study was a clinical comparison study of cervical spine pain patients cared for with chiropractic flexion-distraction versus medical physical therapy treatment conducted at National University of Health Sciences withLoyolaStritchSchool of Medicine and PalmerCenter for Research. In 2004, the fourth federal grant (funded by HRSA) was awarded to do a comparison study of flexion distraction, chiropractic side posture, and medical care of elderly patients’ low back pain. Under its principal investigator, Dr. William Meeker, it is underway currently at Palmer Center for Research in cooperation with the University of Iowa. In 2004, the fifth federal grant (funded by NIH, the National Institutes of Health) was awardedfor predicting low back pain patients response to spinal manipulation (chiropractic side posture & flexion distraction). Under its principal investigator, Dr. William Meeker, it is also underway at the Palmer Center for Research in cooperation with the University of Iowa. In 2006, a grant (funded by FCER) was awarded for the study flexion-distraction for stenosis. Under its principal investigator, Jerrilyn Cambron DC MPh, it is underway at National University of Health Sciences, University of Illinois Medical Center (Chief of Geriatric Medicine).
In 2006, a grant (funded by Health Resources and Services Administration’s Chiropractic Demonstration Project Grant Program) was awarded. The research will help doctors predict patient responsiveness to treatment and help determine who should be referred for spinal manipulation or for active exercise therapy.” Under its principal investigator, Paul Dougherty, DC, of the New YorkCollege of Chiropractic, it is underway in RochesterNY and CanadaiguaNY.
In 2006, a grant “Amount of health care and self-care following a randomized clinical trial comparing flexion-distraction with exercise program for chronic low back pain” was awarded to National University of Health Sciences, Dr. Jerrilyn Cambron, which is now published in Osteopathy & Chiropractic and Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
