Treatment of Chronic Nonresponsive Patients With a Nonforce Technique
Received 18 August 2003; received in revised form 22 December 2003
Objective
To investigate how chronic pain patients respond to treatment with Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (BEST).
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 > .05) but not subsequently. The Profile of Mood States reflected favorable changes in all areas. Significant improvement in vigor (P > .003) and fatigue (P > .006) existed at the end of 5 weeks (P < .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.
Sources of support: Supported by a grant from Morter Health Systems & Parker College of Chiropractic.
aDirector of Research, Parker College of Chiropractic, Research Institute, Dallas, Tex
bResearch Assistant, Parker College of Chiropractic, Research Institute, Dallas, Tex
dChair, Department of Diagnosis, Parker College of Chiropractic, Research Institute, Dallas, Tex
Submit requests for reprints to: Ronald L. Rupert, MS, DC, Director of Research, Parker College of Chiropractic, Research Institute, 2500 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229
ABSTRACT