The Evolution of Academic Chiropractic Research and Care at the Osher Center

Posted On: June 26th, 2021

Osher Center

The Evolution of Academic Chiropractic Research and Care at the Osher Center

Since the launch of the Osher Center in 2002, chiropractic care has been a key component of the clinical services we provide, as well as a focus for our research team. Brigham and Women’s Hospital was one of the first academic hospitals to integrate chiropractic care in the US, led by Dr. Matthew Kowalski at the Osher Clinical Center (OCC).

Academic Research

With support from the Palmer College of Chiropractic, the NCMIC Foundation, and the NIH, research has explored the health benefits of chiropractic for managing migraine headaches, as well as chronic back and neck pain.  For example, our recently completed IMPACT study along with a meta-analysis of the evidence to date, supports that chiropractic care may reduce the frequency and often debilitating burden of migraine headache. Prior NIH studies based at the OCC also suggest that a multimodal approach to managing back pain that includes chiropractic care can reduce both pain and disability. Basic research conducted by Dr. Kowalski in collaboration with Osher Research Affiliate Dr. Vitaly Napdow have also begun to probe how changes in brain neural networks may explain the pain reducing effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation.

Chiropractic for Chronic Neck Pain for Nurses

Our most recent and ongoing study led by Drs. Wayne and Kowalski targets BWH nurses. It explores if the combination of Chiropractic Care and Tai Chi can impact pain, function, and work-related performance in BWH Nurse with chronic neck pain.

New Chiropractic Fellow at the Osher Center

The Osher Center’s commitment to advancing evidence-based chiropractic care led to a generous philanthropic gift this year from the NCMIC Foundation to support a three-year clinician research fellowship based at the Osher Center.  Dr. Wren Burton was awarded the fellowship, and begins on July 2nd, 2021.