Report from the Research Committee

Board Meeting: Eagles 2004
(Drs Bablis, Walker & Pollard)

Introduction
The last year has been a busy one for the research committee. We have experienced some significant breakthroughs as well as a few challenges. These activities have collectively made us wiser to the ways of true progress that will be forged in the year ahead. It is with great expectation that I look forward to the New Year. The coming year will see an expansion of our activities into both the research and teaching arenas. These advances will undoubtedly set the world of chiropractic ablaze with excitement and hopefully transform ONE RF and NET Inc into the mainstream.

In achieving the following efforts, we have begun to build a team. A team that has been hand picked to provide the requisite efforts to achieve the lofty goals that we have set ourselves, and while the vision at the top can become a little heady at times, I feel that we owe a great deal of thanks to Dr Peter Bablis for that vision and Dr Walker for his incredible drive to make it happen. Together the research committee has achieved great things. I thank both Peter and Scott for their assistance throughout the year and look forward to collaborating with them further in the coming year.

The many activities will broken down into two categories: research and teaching. This dualistic nature of the committee function, and my job description, were the result of new directions which have developed in our efforts
Before I list the particular activities of the year I wish to thank our growing army of helpers, or foot soldiers as Dr Walker would like to call them. Their help has been a significant contribution to the cause and one that will bear great fruit in the years ahead. These fine people include: the Board, the research committee, Assoc. Prof Bonello, Dr Andrew McHardy, Dr Alison Griffiths, Dr Anne Jensen, Dr Ben Brown, Dr Faye Isak, Dr Rick Schlederer, Dr Wayne Hoskins and Ms Katie Hardy. In addition, there are several final year students at Macquarie assisting in various aspects of the research programs.

Research- The ethics approvals
The following research projects have been approved to commence in the next year. The start time of these projects will depend on the availability of Dr Bablis and other practitioners assisting with the treatment. These projects require funding and I will call upon the Board for approval of funds (previously listed) when they commence. They include:

1. A randomised controlled trial of NET treatment of chronic Neck pain
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Bonello R
2. A randomised controlled trial of NET treatment of chronic low back pain
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Bonello R
3. A randomised controlled trial of NET treatment of hypothyrodism
   Brown B, Bonello R, Pollard H, Bablis P
4. A single blinded observational study of the ileocecal valve point
   and low back pain
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Bonello R

Grant application submitted
The following studies have applied to outside granting bodies for funds to commence research.

1. The breast cancer study
   Monti et al
   National Institutes of Health
2. A Bio-psychosocial Approach to Hypothyroidism
   Brown B, Bonello R, Pollard H
   Australian Spinal Research Foundation

Manuscripts in preparation
The following manuscripts are in a early stage of preparation and are expected to be submitted to a peer reviewed journal sometime in the next 6-9 months

1. Psychodermotology: Successful treatment of 3 cases with NET
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Schlederer R.
2. Separation anxiety disorder: a case report
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Isak F
3. Resolution of trigger points in neck pain patients with NET.
   Bablis P, Pollard HManuscripts in final stages of preparation

The following manuscripts are in an advanced state of readiness and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal sometime in the next three to six months.

1. Infertility syndrome: A report of three cases resolved with NET
   Bablis P, Pollard H, McHardy A
2. NET treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: a report of three cases
   Bablis P, Pollard H, McHardy A
3. Symptoms in new patients presenting to an NET practitioner: A survey of 368 consecutive cases.
   Bablis P, Pollard H, Schlederer R.
4. Stress and visceral dysfunction: More important than the viscerosomatic reflex?
   Pollard H, Hardy K
5. A Bio-psychosocial Approach to Hypothyroidism
   Brown B, Bonello R, Pollard H
   Australasian Chiropractic & Osteopathy

Manuscripts accepted for publication
The following manuscripts have been accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Those manuscripts with an “ * “ will require revisions prior to submission. These revisions will be complete within a month or two.

Interexaminer reliability of the deltoid and psoas muscle test.
Pollard H, Lakay B, Tucker F, Watson B, Bablis P
Jou Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics

1. Hypothyroidism: a report of two cases
   Bablis P, Pollard H
   Chiropractic Journal of Australia
2. Supraspinal influences on the type “O” disorder
   Pollard H
   Jou Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
3. * The somatovisceral reflex: How important for the “type O” condition?"
   Pollard H
   Chiropractic Journal of Australia
4. * Low back pain and depression: a review.
   Middleton P, Pollard H
   Australasian Chiropractic & Osteopathy

Manuscripts in review
The following manuscripts have not yet been accepted for publication but have already been submitted and revised based on reviewers comments. I am awaiting a final decision by the editors for each of these manuscripts. It is likely that one or more of them may require further re-writes. The passage to acceptance for publication could be six or more months.

1. Emotional disturbance in new chiropractic patients: A pilot study
   Pollard H*, Bablis P , Eastwood S, Dillon N, Griffiths A
   Jou Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
2. A mind-body treatment for hypothyroid dysfunction: a report of two cases
   Bablis P, Pollard H
   Jou Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics
3. Practitoner perceptions of emotions associated with pain: A survey
   Walker S, Bablis P, Pollard H, McHardy A
   Jou Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics

Conference presentation submission
The following abstract has been submitted to the conference, “Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in the Modern Age”. WFAS 2004 6th World Conference on Acupuncture (29 – 31 October 2004, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia).

1. An acupuncture based mind-body therapy: A new model for management of hypothyroidism
   Bablis P, Pollard H

Teaching
Macquarie University, Australia
This year has seen significant effort placed into a proposal to have NET accepted as an elective in the technique program at Macquarie University Sydney Australia. The team of: Drs Griffiths, Bablis, Walker, Pollard and Prof Bonello have toiled hard to satisfy the numerous requirements of a university program. A draft proposal was put to the Director of the Center for Chiropractic and the Director of Post graduate Studies Dept. Health And Chiropractic, and some excellent feedback was provided. This feedback will be incorporated into a new proposal for consideration in the next six months.

As a part of a new submission, the proposal will be completely rewritten to expand upon the scientific underpinnings of the seven pillars of NET. The work has commenced and will be put together by Dr Hoskins under the guidance of the team. It should add significantly to the proposal.

In addition, our newest member of the teaching team, Dr Ken West, will strengthen the Macquarie proposal.

There are a number of other very exciting possibilities that we hope to be announcing in the future as they develop.

Dr Henry Pollard DC, PhD
Director of Research
ONE Research Foundation
On behalf of the Research Committee

 

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