Research - Michael Beneat DC PC - Your catalyst for healing

TREATMENT OF CHRONIC NONRESPONSIVE PATIENTS WITH A NONFORCE TECHNIQUE

Ronald L. Rupert, MS, DC, Cheryl L. McKinzie, MS, MA, Milton T. Morter, Jr, DC, and Dwain M. Daniel, DC

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate how chronic pain patients respond to treatment with Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique.

Methods: Twenty-four adult patients with chronic pain-related conditions that failed to respond to previous chiropractic care were recruited. Subjects were given baseline assessments including pain Visual Analog Scale, Profile of Mood States, and the Global Well-being Scale. The 5-week treatment program consisted of an initial 3-day session with BEST therapy, followed by a single treatment session for the following 4 weeks. Patients were reevaluated at the end of the 3-day session and at weekly intervals throughout the course of care. At the end of week 5, patients were asked to assess their degree of satisfaction with the treatment.

Results: Patients had 3 main categories of pain: headache (n = 8, mean duration 15 years), neck pain (n = 18, mean duration 11 years), and low back pain (n = 17, mean duration 10 years). Global Well-Being Scale scores significantly improved at the end of the 3-day session (P N .05) but not subsequently. The Profile of Mood States reflected favorable changes in all areas. Significant improvement in vigor (P N .003) and fatigue (P N .006) existed at the end of 5 weeks (P b .01). The reduction of pain was significant at both the end of the 3-day session and at follow-up (P = .0003). A statistically significant decrease in depression (P = .004) was noted after 3 days, and a substantial although not significant (P = .06) decrease in depression existed at the end of 1 month. Eighty-two percent reported satisfaction with BEST (47% reported being "extremely satisfied" and 35% "satisfied").

Conclusion: In this group of chronic pain patients, improvement in patient outcome measures was seen after 5 weeks of therapy. These patients also responded with a high degree of satisfaction with care. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;28:259-264).

Key Indexing Terms: Chiropractic; Low Back Pain; Neck Pain; Depression; Headache.

There are many of nonforce or very low-force treatment techniques used both historically and presently by chiropractors and other health providers. Those within the chiropractic profession include Directional Nonforce Technique, Toftness, Spinal Touch, Perianal Reflex Technique, and Logan Basic Technique. It is difficult to estimate the extent of use of these procedures by the chiropractic profession. In a national survey of chiropractors, the use of specific techniques has been assessed. However, with the exception of Logan Basic, no other low-force or nonforce technique appeared on the list associated with the survey. Thirty percent of chiropractors confirmed that they used Logan Basic. The only survey option for chiropractors using light or no-force methods was to select "other" technique, to which 15% responded. In addition, there is little information related to efficacy or support for the proposed underlying mechanisms espoused by technique proponents.

Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (BEST), a nonforce technique, was developed in 1972. The technique uses an eclectic approach that attempts to eliminate internal and external factors interfering with human health. According to the developer, BEST treatment attempts to address all 3 forms of interference, which may be physical, mental, or chemical. BEST proponents suggest that chiropractic management focuses on removing or correcting the physical problems that interfere with optimal body function via spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care also addresses some of the chemical issues through dietary recommendations. However, those who practice BEST believe that the mental issues that impede health optimization are typically not treated in chiropractic practice and that the reason some patients do not get better under other types of chiropractic care is that 1 of the 3 forms of interference (physical, mental, or chemical) was not fully addressed by the physician.