Research Updates
For the past 70 years, NUCCA care has had a positive influence on how our bodies function, confirming that there is a very important relationship between the spine and central nervous system. Current technology now enables us to understand even more about the physiologic changes before and after an optimal correction of the upper cervical spine. This leads us to a greater awareness of what is possible in the realm of well-being and health care.
We are deeply appreciative of the ongoing support for our research from all of our supporters. This help enables us to move forward in innovative and groundbreaking ways, and in many instances, leads us into new and unexplored territory.
What we have been doing…download the 2021 UCRF Impact Report
CLINICAL RESEARCH INVESTIGATION:
Phase Contrast MRI Migraine Study-University of Calgary
The Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PCMRI) Migraine study was a multidisciplinary project that created ongoing partnerships between NUCCA, University of Calgary Neurology and Elliot-Fong-Wallace (EFW) Radiology. It brought to Calgary new state-of-the-art, dynamic MRI technology to determine how the brain’s vascular system and brain function respond to an optimal NUCCA correction. Subjects reported positive results regarding migrane quality of life with no adverse reactions to care.
This study looked at the correlation of quality-of-life measures and physiological changes as measured from the PC-MRI (dynamic) evaluation, pre and post correction NUCCA x-ray evaluations and measured postural changes. Whereas many studies have a lot of patients with a few specific outcome measures, this pilot study had a few patients and a lot of data to scrutinize for the linked relationships. The cross references of data from x-ray, posture, MRI and Quality of Life measures was very revealing.
The study manuscript has been published by BioMed Research International.
VALIDATION OF NUCCA ASSESSMENTS AND PROTOCOLS:
X-ray Inter-Examiner Reliability Study
The X-ray Inter-examiner Reliability Study is working to validate the effectiveness and excellent training of the NUCCA Certification Program though demonstrating consistency and agreement in the NUCCA system of x-ray analysis. The study data is being analyzed by the statistician to determine reliability of three examiners in marking and analyzing NUCCA x-rays. Study goals were met and manuscript preparation is underway.
RAS Analysis Study
This study’s objective is measuring the positional differences of consistent skeletal landmarks between pre and post nasium and vertex NUCCA x-rays. Using a newly developed technology to measure accuracy of patient placement, this research builds the foundation for future studies demonstrating reliability and validity of pre to post patient positioning.
ONLINE UC MONOGRAPH:
Funding was used to successfully launch a new online version of the UC Monograph. The vision and purpose of this Monograph is to provide research support for our members’ clinical practices. The UC Monograph is a helpful resource to assist practitioners in validating the different aspects of the NUCCA work. The information on the website includes reliability and validity studies, quality of life outcome measures and physiological changes that have been demonstrated from our prior research. NUCCA Standards and Certification information has also been posted for easy access. All of this information is now available in one easy to navigate website supporting doctors in their NUCCA practices and helping the general public understand all aspects of NUCCA history, research and clinical protocols.
Where we are going…
Manuscript Preparation and Publications
Additional papers will be written for publication using data extracted from our previous NUCCA studies. The focus of these papers will be in describing deeper understanding and conclusions regarding x-ray reliability and stability of the NUCCA correction. This is based on percentage of change as measured on post x-ray analysis, in association with measured postural changes, relative to correction of the ASC syndrome.
Future Studies
As always, we are committed to continued research with a focus on demonstrating reliability and validity of the NUCCA subluxation assessments. Also important are the demonstrated physiological benefits of an optimal correction of the ASC syndrome.
Some areas of further study will include:
1) Practice-Based Research: following up on the success of the current study in evaluating the accuracy of online form completion, further work could help establish procedures for collecting quality of life data on patient intake and identify areas of further integration of this important data collection for patient follow up and then for specific studies.
2) Future areas of research involving mild traumatic brain injury, concussion and MS are on the horizon. A common link between these is MRI Evidence for Altered Venous Drainage & Intracranial Compliance following trauma. More research is needed to further understand the patho-physiologic mechanisms of CSF/Blood flow in the head and neck region following trauma.
For additional information and updates on our projects, please visit www.ucrf.org
Click here if you would like to support NUCCA research now www.rrgfoundation.org
Thank you for your sincere consideration of supporting our research and securing the future of NUCCA Upper Cervical healthcare for many generations to come!
Sincerely,
Dr. D. Gordon Hasick; Co-principal Investigator
The Britannia Clinic
