BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence A.D. Jenks METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20251211T134500 DTEND:20251211T151500 DTSTAMP:20251211T134500 UID:2025/phd-defence-a-d-jenks@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260408T212634 LOCATION:VU Main Building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence A.D. Jenks X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Managing Low Back Pain in Older Adults

Health scientist Alan Jenks conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis and shows that spinal ma nipulative therapy (SMT) provides similar outcomes for pain and funct ion as recommended therapies like exercise.

Chiroprac tic care for low back pain (LBP) in older adults is effective and saf e, with improvements seen in pain and functional status, especially w ithin the first three months of care. Three main pain trajectories we re observed: improvement from severe pain, improvement from moderate pain, and stable moderate pain; most older adults improve, but a subs et remain stable or worsen over a year. Measurement tools (RMDQ, ODI, QBPDS) are reliable for tracking disability in this population. Heal thcare utilization is high, with varied use of medical and complement ary services but few adverse events. More research on identifying whi ch older adults benefit most from specific treatments is needed.

< p>The study shows that the recovery process varies from person to per son. Some of the older adults who visited a chiropractor for low back pain experienced improvements in pain and function, especially in th e first few months after starting treatment. Others noticed little ch ange or experienced an increase in symptoms. This underscores that re sults can vary from person to person, and additional support or other treatments may be necessary. It is important that older adults and t heir families find the approach that works best for them and discuss their choices with healthcare providers.

More information on th e thesis

DESCRIPTION: Health scientist Alan Jenks conducted an individu al participant data meta-analysis and shows that spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) provides similar outcomes for pain and function as reco mmended therapies like exercise.

Chiropractic care fo r low back pain (LBP) in older adults is effective and safe, with imp rovements seen in pain and functional status, especially within the f irst three months of care. Three main pain trajectories were observed : improvement from severe pain, improvement from moderate pain, and s table moderate pain; most older adults improve, but a subset remain s table or worsen over a year. Measurement tools (RMDQ, ODI, QBPDS) are reliable for tracking disability in this population. Healthcare util ization is high, with varied use of medical and complementary service s but few adverse events. More research on identifying which older ad ults benefit most from specific treatments is needed. The study shows that the recovery process varies from person to person. Some of the older adults who visited a chiropractor for low back pain experienced improvements in pain and function, especially in the first few month s after starting treatment. Others noticed little change or experienc ed an increase in symptoms. This underscores that results can vary fr om person to person, and additional support or other treatments may b e necessary. It is important that older adults and their families fin d the approach that works best for them and discuss their choices wit h healthcare providers. More information on the thesis Managi ng Low Back Pain in Older Adults END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR