ABSTRACT
Objective: The Non-Opioid Pain Alleviation Information Network (NOPAINMN) project was designed to identify, consolidate, and map evidence-based non-opioid and non-pharmacological pain management complementary and integrative health (CIH) modalities for chronic pain management across Minnesota into a searchable and informational website (www.nopainmn.org). Methods: The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health's Pain Task Force White Paper identifying evidence-based research of non-pharmacological pain practice (NPPC) was reviewed and referenced. National and state certifying boards and accrediting organizations for NPPC modalities were accessed to identify Minnesota-based NPPC providers' name, business/health-system affiliation, address, contact information, and credentials. The NOPAINMN website displays these data in a consumer-facing website with searchable fields such as NPPC modality type, and location with varying distances. The website was ß-tested by practitioners and stakeholders for optimization. Eight main NPPC modalities and their respective subcategories were identified and mapped: Acupuncture; Integrative Medical Care (Functional medicine consultation and Integrative medicine consultation); Massage Therapy; Mind-Body Therapies (Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Music Therapy); Movement Therapies (Tai Chi, qigong, and Yoga Therapy); Psychology (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy); Rehabilitative Therapies (Physical and Occupational Therapy); and Spinal Manipulation. Results: All information compiled resulted in 17,155 providers/practitioners. Physical Therapy had the greatest number of reported providers (n = 5224), followed by Occupational Therapy (n = 3792), Psychology (n = 3324), Chiropractic (n = 3033), Acupuncture (n = 591), and Massage Therapy (n = 544). The Resource Map included 56 major health systems, 686 facilities, 2651 solo or private group practices, and 14 academic training schools. With web-based cross-referencing, providers and facilities were affiliated and linked with health systems to produce an interconnected mapping system. ß-Testing with patients found that the website was reported as relatively easy to use and informative. Conclusion: The website was created to assist individuals, health care providers, insurance carriers, and health care facilities in finding evidence-based information and resources on NPPC to guide, support, and proactively manage and engage chronic pain patients across Minnesota.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study examines (a) the feasibility of continued research with an older population; (b) the variety of hand-wrist conditions presented by older patients; (c) the accommodations to standard chiropractic treatment for older patients; and (d) the validity, reliability, responsiveness of measures, and preliminary estimates of outcome of treatment for general hand-wrist pain. METHODS: A cohort of 55 volunteers, first evaluated over a 5-week natural-history baseline period, was offered 5-week chiropractic treatment and then interviewed at 6 months posttreatment. Descriptive and preliminary inferential analyses are reported. Start values for power analysis are offered. RESULTS: The project recruited a sample of 55 and retained 47 (85%) participants over 8 months, indicating feasibility of a larger project. Participants provided strong self-reported, albeit preliminary, evidence of benefit. Mean values and SDs of pain and strength measures are provided for future power calculations. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical research with older participants presenting with hand-wrist pain and dysfunction is feasible. Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of self-reports are demonstrated. The research presents preliminary evidence of the benefit of chiropractic treatment for older patients presenting with hand-wrist symptoms.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Conditions of the hand and wrist often occur in older patients, but decision-making algorithms and manual treatment protocols for this age group have not been developed or assessed. Further, effects of age-related co-morbidities are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To build an understanding of an appropriate treatment protocol from the ground up that does not assume that generic spinal or extremity manipulative therapy is indicated. METHODS: The project was conducted in two phases, involving (1) interviews with chiropractors (reported here) and (2) a single cohort, longitudinal design, identifying the conditions of the hand and wrist and concomitant comorbidities as well as promising accommodations and chiropractic treatments of these symptoms in older people. In the first phase, data were gathered, through in-person focus group and telephone interviews, from 58 chiropractors treating older patients presenting with hand and wrist symptoms. RESULTS: Chiropractors indicated they accommodated treatments to the health status and co-morbidities of their older patients and considered "management," rather than "cure," a more realistic concept in treating chronic conditions. With older patients, chiropractors recommended using a lighter touch, rehabilitative passive stretching, traction, nutritional counseling, soft-tissue work, and home exercises. Chiropractors also cautioned providers to take extra time in history-taking and extra diligence with older patients, identifying use of medications, and conducting blood pressure, bone density, blood clotting assessments, if indicated, before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Chiropractors provided valuable orientation, indicating that caring for older patients requires careful history-taking and treatment plans that accommodate to presenting co-morbidities and the patients' general health statuses.
