January 2002

Dr. William Harris Donates $50,000 in matching Challenge Grant

            When the CBP® Non-profit Board of Directors voted to step-up the year’s fundraising campaign, they never imagined that they would raise over $100,000.00 for chiropractic research in half a year.  What transpired in the second half of 2001 shattered any fundraising numbers the organization has ever seen.  A total, $102,715.00 was donated to CBP® Non-profit, Inc. (CBP® NP) in less than six months (July - December, 2001), thanks to generous chiropractors, friends, and a matching grant challenge offered by Dr. William Harris of the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education (FACE).

            The fundraising campaign began following a special session retreat at the home of Dr. Don Harrison in Evanston, WY where CBP® NP Board members, CBP® instructors, and friends were invited to convene in June, 2001.  At this meeting, Dr. Harrison, president of CBP® NP moved to pledge $20,000 to support the research of Dr. Chris Colloca and Dr. Tony Keller, whose research funding was abruptly dropped by National Institute of Chiropractic Research (NICR) following Dr. Colloca’s departure from his Vice President position with Activator Methods in 2000.  Although a pledge had been made, the money still needed to be raised for the research to be funded.

            “We wrote letters, made phone calls, sent e-mails, and solicited donations at seminars,” said Dr. Harrison, “and the response was overwhelming.”  Recognizing the immediate need for funds to continue their research, Dr. Harris immediately donated $25,000 which allowed Drs. Keller and Colloca to continue the biomechanical and neurophysiological research projects that were already underway.  Later in the Fall, Dr. Harris offered CBP® NP a matching grant challenge to raise $25,000 by December 26, 2001.  CBP® NP supporters responded with over $34,000 in the matching grant challenge which triggered Dr. Harris to donate an additional $25,000.  By year’s end, Chiropractors and supporters donated $52,715.00 and Dr. Harris donated $50,000 from July-December, 2001 adding a total of $102,715 to CBP® NP’s bottom line.

            Today, an acclaimed philanthropist, chiropractor, executive, lecturer, and elder statesman to the profession of chiropractic, Dr. Harris struggled early in practice and was determined to establish a non-profit foundation with proceeds going to advance chiropractic.  Dr. Colloca stated, “Dr. William Harris is by far the most generous benefactor that the chiropractic profession has ever seen.                   Through his Foundation, Dr. Harris has given approximately $5,000,000 to chiropractic.”  Dr. Harris’ donations have funded the construction of buildings and Department Chairs at chiropractic colleges, supported chiropractic research, and made possible the public airing of the Centennial Foundation’s television documentary commemorating the 100th anniversary of chiropractic in 1995, through his generous $300,000 contribution.  Among the many honors that Dr. Harris has received, stands out the induction as “fellow” in the ICA during its annual convention in 1956, by Dr. B.J. Palmer.  B.J. authored 36 books, dedicating only two books to chiropractors, and Dr. Harris being one of them.

            Dr. Harris shared his philosophy of giving back to chiropractic when he said, “Just think what would happen if every chiropractor would give three percent of his income back to FACE, or some other non-profit organization. It is hard for me to understand why every chiropractor doesn’t give back to fertilize the soil whence cometh his crop.” Clearly, Dr. Harris’s giving spirit spread among the profession this year which is responsible for the success that CBP® NP has witnessed.  The profession owes a debt of gratitude to the leadership and vision of Dr. Harris in helping secure the future of chiropractic. We also want to thank the chiropractors, vendors, suppliers, and friends who cared enough to give and make this fundraising effort such a success.

            In addition to funding ongoing CBP® NP research projects, the funds raised will allow for the addition of Dr. Colloca and Keller’s research agenda to the list of CBP® NP research projects.  Moreover, the two are now more closely collaborating on spinal modeling projects with Dr. Don and Deed Harrison.  Dr. Colloca, a private practitioner and post-graduate lecturer from Phoenix, AZ, has collaborated with biomechanist, Keller on numerous research projects that have resulted in several publications and conference proceedings over the past four years.  Dr. Keller, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont, has a long history of publication in the spinal biomechanics field.  Together, in 2002-2003, research will continue in the following domains:

1) Neurophysiological and Biomechanical Responses of Chiropractic Adjustments in Humans

            a. Setting & Timeline:  Orthopaedic Hospital, Antwerpen Belgium in conjunction with Robert Gunzburg, M.D., Ph.D. (February, 2002)

            b. Summary of Research:  Nerve root action potentials (using bi-polar platinum electrodes), neuromuscular reflex responses (using needle EMG), and bone movement (using accelerometers attached to pins placed in the spinous processes) are measured in human subjects undergoing lumbar decompressive surgery to characterize the neuromechanical responses during chiropractic adjustments.

            c. Publications to Date From This Project:

                        i. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Gunzburg R, Van de Putte K, Fuhr AW.  Neurophysiological response to intraoperative lumbosacral spinal manipulation.  J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000: 23(7):447-57.

                        ii. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Gunzburg R.  Toward an understanding of the chiropractic adjustment: a Neuromechanical model derived from original data.  Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial World Federation of Chiropractic, Paris, France, May 21-26, 2001:261-3.

                        iii. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Gunzburg R.  Neuromechanical characterization of intraoperative lumbosacral spinal manipulation.  Association of Chiropractic Colleges / Research Agenda Conference VII.  New Orleans, LA, March 13-17, 2002: accepted for presentation.

                        iv. Keller TS, Colloca CJ, Gunzburg R.  In vivo motion response of the human lumbar spine during spinal manipulation.  Association of Chiropractic Colleges / Research Agenda Conference VII.  New Orleans, LA, March 13-17, 2002: accepted for presentation.

2. A Biomechanical and Neurophysiological Investigation of Spinal Manipulation on Trunk Muscle Hyperactivity

            a. Setting & Timeline:  Department of Experimental Surgery, Sahlgrenska Hostpital, Gothenburg, Sweden in conjunction with Sten Holm, Ph.D. (June, 2002; 2003) 

            b. Summary of Research:  Using a previously validated experimental porcine (pig) model, we seek to measure the biomechanical and physiological effects of different forms of chiropractic adjustments.  Specifically, our aim is to investigate the ability of chiropractic adjustments to inhibit experimentally induced muscular activity (spasm), and further understand the muscular contributions to spinal stability (posture).

3. Spinal Modeling

            a. Setting & Timeline:  University of Vermont, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Private Practices of Dr. Deed Harrison (Elko, NV) & Dr. Chris Colloca (Phoenix, AZ) (Currently Underway).

            b. Summary of Research:  Collectively contributing and adding to the existing research agenda of CBP® Technique, this research involves the continued development of spinal models to investigate normal and abnormal postural loads and their biomechanical effects on the human frame.  Using original data obtained from our private practices, we hope to be able to validate such models and better understand how postural abnormalities contribute both biomechanically and clinically in health and disease.

            c. Publications to Date From This Project:

                        i. Harrison DE, Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Harrison DD, Janik TJ. Prediction of sagittal plane loads and stresses in the lumbar spine. A comparison of neutral posture and anterior translation of the thoracic cage.  In review.

                        ii. Keller TS, Harrison DE, Colloca CJ, Harrison DD, Janik TJ. Prediction of Spinal Deformity Following Disc Degeneration and Osteoporosis.

4. Neuromuscular Responses of Postural Permutations & Cervical & Lumbar Extension Traction

            a. Setting & Timeline:  Private Practice of Dr. Chris Colloca, Phoenix, AZ (2002-2003)

            b. Summary of Research:  Together with Dr. Don and Deed Harrison, and using the recently acquired electromographic equipment, we will examine muscular activity associated with abnormal postures and investigate the therapeutic neuromuscular responses associated with CBP® traction methodologies.  Through this research, we hope to better understand the effects of abnormal loads on the neuromusculoskeletal system, and objective benefits of spinal rehabilitation.

5. Biomechanical Characterization of Dynamic Spinal Stiffness.

            a. Setting & Timeline:  Private Practice of Dr. Chris Colloca, Phoenix, AZ (currently underway)

            b. Summary of Research:  Our current project is a longitudinal clinical trial in a large population of clinically relevant subjects and “normals” to further characterize spinal stiffness to better understand it’s clinical relevance. We have begun to investigate dynamic spinal stiffness assessments as an objective means to clinically assess the spine.  Our research has involved studies to investigate:

                        i. the validity of the equipment;

                        ii. characterizing stiffness in asymptomatic subjects and patients with back pain;

                        iii. postural and muscular contributions to spinal stiffness; and

                        iv. radiographic correlations to spinal stiffness;

            c. Publications to Date From This Project:

                        i. Colloca CJ, Keller TS.  Stiffness and neuromuscular reflex response of the human spine to dynamic posteroanterior manipulative thrusts in patients with low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001; 24(8):489-500.

                        ii. Keller TS, Colloca CJ, Fuhr AW.  In Vivo Transient Vibration Analysis of the Normal Human Thoracolumbar Spine.  J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000: 23(8):521-30.

                        iii. Keller TS, Beliveau JG, Colloca CJ.  Determination of posterior-anterior lumbar spine motion patterns: a twenty-one degree of freedom sagittal plane model.  Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial World Federation of Chiropractic, Paris, France, May 21-26, 2001:272-4.

                        iv. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Seltzer DE, Fuhr AW.  Muscular and Soft-Tissue Contributions of Dynamic Posteroanterior Spinal Stiffness.  Proceedings of the 2000 International Conference on Spinal Manipulation, Bloomington, MN, September 21-23, 2000: 159-60.

                        v. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Peterson TK, Seltzer DE, Fuhr AW.  Correlation of L5 Dynamic Posteroanterior Spinal Stiffness to Plain Film Radiographic Images of Lumbosacral Disc Height. 2000 International Conference on Spinal Manipulation, Bloomington, MN, September 21-23, 2000:179-80.

                        vi. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Seltzer DE, Fuhr AW.  Mechanical impedance of the human lower thoracic and lumbar spine exposed to in vivo posterior-anterior manipulative thrusts.  Proceedings of the 12th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics.  Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, August 27-30, 2000: 171.

                        vii. Keller TS, Colloca CJ.  Dynamic response of the human lumbar spine: a 5 degree-of-freedom lumped parameter time and frequency domain model.  Proceedings of the 12th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics.  Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, August 27-30, 2000: 395.

                        viii. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Fuhr AW.  Muscular and mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine in response to dynamic posteroanterior forces.  Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Kona, Hawaii.  Toronto: ISSLS; 1999: p.136A.

                        ix. Keller TS, Colloca CJ, Morrison B, Anderson M.  The effects of postural loading upon dynamic stiffness of the human lumbar spine.

                        x. Colloca CJ, Keller TS, Morrison B, Anderson M.  Dynamic stiffness characteristics of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

                        xi. Keller TS, Colloca CJ, Morrison B, Anderson M.  Force dependence of dynamic spinal stiffness assessment.

xii. Keller TS, Colloca CJ.  Accuracy, reliability, and repeatability of dynamic spinal stiffness assessments.

6. Longitudinal Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effects of Chiropractic Care on Objective & Self-Reported Pain & Disability Outcomes.

            a. Setting & Timeline:  Private Practice of Dr. Chris Colloca, Phoenix, AZ (currently underway)

            b. Summary of Research:  This project is a longitudinal clinical trial in a large population of patients to investigate the objective and self-reported pain and disability outcomes in patients receiving different forms of chiropractic care and management.

            c. Publications to Date From This Project:

                        i. Keller TS, Colloca CJ.  Mechanical force spinal manipulation increases trunk muscle strength assessed by electromyography: a comparative clinical trial.  J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000: 23(9):585-95