Performance is an interest for sports chiropractors conducting research and the athletes that seek their care. Unfortunately, current research regarding high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation and its effect on performance is inconclusive and lacks methodological rigor. One area of methodological improvement is the collection and reporting of biomechanical data collected from athletes before and after receiving treatment. This mixed-methods study assesses the feasibility of collecting movement-related data from soccer players performing maximum effort kicks before and after receiving spinal manipulation. Players will also verbally describe their definition of performance, and describe their perceptions of how the treatment affected their ability to kick.

Trunk muscle endurance is related to the treatment and prevention of low back pain and low back injuries. Endurance times are often used clinically to monitor status and progression of patients, and in experimental studies as a measurement. To date, it is unclear whether performance on subsequent endurance tests is affected by having already completed an endurance test to volitional fatigue in the same session. Findings from this study will inform clinical and research practices where batteries of physical performance tests including multiple assessments of trunk muscle endurance are performed.

Evaluating physical function in people with low back pain currently relies on self-reported information. Thus, tests and measurements that objectively assess physical function are desired. A potential biomarker based on information obtained from activity of the spine’s extensor muscles during forward bending, called the flexion-relaxation ratio, has been proposed for people with low back pain. To be considered a biomarker, the measurement properties must be well-studied. Repeatability and measurement error of the flexion-relaxation ratio are critical components that have received little attention. This study evaluates repeatability and measurement error of the flexion-relaxation ratio within a day and between days.

Most studies on the biomechanics of spinal manipulation focus on the recipient (e.g., patient); however, studying the provider’s biomechanics can provide insight into strategies that optimise performance while mitigating injury risk. This study will quantify the movements and loads experienced by providers delivering spinal manipulation to a recipient’s low back. A secondary focus will be placed on determining the strategies used for smaller and larger recipients.

Spinal manipulation is an evidenced based treatment recommended for patients with neck and back pain. Patient preference and comfort during treatment have been suggested to be important factors that can enhance the positive effects of spinal manipulation, however not many studies have looked into how the patient position effects these factors. This study will examine patient preference and comfort in four different head positions during an upper back spinal manipulation procedure.

Treatments for neck pain and low back pain continue to evolve over time. This study will survey chiropractors who teach at CMCC to determine which spinal manipulation treatments they use in practice. This data will be compared to what is being taught to the students at CMCC. This comparison may identify treatments that could be added to the curriculum and potentially ones that could be removed.

This study aims to describe the characteristics of forces used during a common chiropractic intervention for hip pain, hip manipulations. With 7% of chiropractic patients seeking care for hip issues, and drop-piece techniques being 6.3% of interventions, understanding its force-time characteristics is beneficial for treatment and teaching purposes. The study involves chiropractic students as subjects, receiving hip adjustments with and without drop-pieces. By collecting force-time data during high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulations, this research strives to enhance our understanding of chiropractic practices and inform training of this technique.