Table 1 Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria | Rationale |
|---|---|
Minimum age of 20Â years | Minimum age of SOF personnel |
Written informed consent | Must be able to understand and agree to the requirements of the study |
Active duty special operation forces’ (SOF) personnel stationed at the Fort Campbell, KY military site | SOF personnel are the focus of this study. Fort Campbell is the study site |
Exclusion criteria | Â |
Pain intensity ≥4 (using the National Institutes of Health’s PROMIS – question #29) at the initial visit | High pain levels have the potential to confound study results |
Additional diagnostic procedure (other than X-ray) or referral required to determine a diagnosis, obtain a second opinion, or to manage a condition | Additional clinical diagnostic procedures are beyond the scope of this study |
Bone and joint pathology contraindications for chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT). Potential participants with conditions such as recent spinal fracture, concurrent spinal or paraspinal tumor(s), spinal or paraspinal infection(s), inflammatory arthropathies and significant osteoporosis | Participant safety. Care outside study scope needed |
Other contraindications for CMT or suspicion of such contraindication requiring a consultation with another provider (i.e., unstable spinal segments, suspected cauda equina syndrome) | Participant safety. Care outside study scope needed |
Currently being treated for traumatic brain injury | Potential to confound study results |
No known or pending deployment, orders for a distant duty assignment or training site, or other absence from the current military site during the study participation period (2–4 weeks) | Compromises ability to adhere to study protocol |
Received care from a doctor of chiropractic within the past 30Â days | Prevent possibility of carryover effects from recent chiropractic care |