The Effect of Chiropractic Care on Opioid Use for Chronic Spinal Pain: A Feasibility Study

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-04-01

Study Completion Date

2028-03-31

Brief Summary

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The investigators will conduct a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of chiropractic care added to usual medical care, versus usual medical care alone, for adult patients prescribed opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer spinal pain at four community health centers (CHCs) in Canada. These centers provide services to communities and vulnerable populations with high unemployment rates, multiple co-morbidities, and high rates of chronic musculoskeletal disorders that are commonly managed with prescription opioids.

The investigators hypothesize that a full-scale (definitive) cluster RCT on the impact of chiropractic care on prescription opioid use for chronic non-cancer spinal pain will be feasible within the Canadian CHC context.

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Detailed Description

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The investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized, 2-arm, data analyst-blinded feasibility RCT at four Canadian CHCs. The CHCs will be paired on clinical characteristics (e.g., size of patient roster, geographic location), and one center from each pair will be randomized to the intervention and control groups. At each of the four centers, the investigators will recruit adult patients with active opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer spinal pain (minimum dose of 50 mg morphine equivalents daily) who are not currently receiving chiropractic care and are interested in reducing their opioid dose. Each center (cluster) will be allocated to provide 26 weeks of usual medical care plus chiropractic care or usual medical care alone to enrolled participants. Random cluster allocation will be performed by an investigator blinded to the intervention group assignment. To further minimize the possibility of selection bias, clusters will be identified and recruited before randomization, and all eligible (and consenting) patients in each cluster will be included. The pilot trial will be coordinated by the Methods Centre within the Department of Surgery at McMaster University.

The primary aims of this study will be to: (1) estimate recruitment rates at the individual centers, (2) explore adherence to the study protocol, (3) investigate completeness of data collection, and (4) assess the ability to follow-up participants. The investigators will incorporate qualitative methods during the pilot trial (i.e., convergent, mixed methods experimental design) to complement the feasibility measures. The investigators will also collect preliminary data on the outcomes planned for a definitive trial: opioid use, pain, disability, bothersomeness, satisfaction, and quality of life at 6, 12, 18, and 26 weeks from enrolment.

Conditions

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Back Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Cluster-randomized, 2-arm, data analyst-blinded feasibility trial

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators

Due to the nature of the intervention, it will not be possible to blind patients, study personnel, or clinicians to treatment allocation. However, data analysts and investigators responsible for interpreting results will be blinded to treatment allocation until all data have been analyzed and interpreted.

Study Groups

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Usual Medical Care

This group will consist of eligible, consenting, participants attending centers randomized to ongoing usual medical care.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Usual Medical Care

Intervention Type OTHER

In both the intervention and control arms of the study, usual medical care will be defined as any and all medical care provided to patients with chronic non-cancer back or neck pain at a Canadian CHC, including: primary care provider consultation visits, prescription medication (e.g., muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, opioid and non-opioid analgesics), referral for diagnostic testing (e.g., lab work, imaging) or specialist consultation, as well as other co-interventions (e.g., visits with nurses, dieticians, social workers, or physiotherapists) as determined by their PCP. PCPs will also engage study participants in a formal effort to reduce their opioid use within the framework of each CHC's current opioid-reduction practices.

Usual Medical Care + Chiropractic Care

This group will consist of eligible, consenting, participants attending centers randomized to ongoing usual medical care plus chiropractic care.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Usual Medical Care + Chiropractic Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Treatment sessions may include high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulative therapy, as well as any or all of the following: spinal mobilization, soft-tissue massage/trigger point therapy, education and reassurance (e.g., pain management, ergonomic and activities of daily living recommendations), and home advice (e.g., icing, spinal stretching, core muscle strengthening, and cardiovascular exercises). As part of the intervention, chiropractic clinicians will engage PCPs in a collaborative effort to support opioid tapering. Consistent with current clinical practice guidelines, participants will be provided up to a maximum of 18 chiropractic visits during the active care period, although participants may continue with treatment after the 12-week period (e.g., one visit, every 2-4 weeks) to manage episodes of exacerbation/flare-up.

Interventions

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Usual Medical Care

In both the intervention and control arms of the study, usual medical care will be defined as any and all medical care provided to patients with chronic non-cancer back or neck pain at a Canadian CHC, including: primary care provider consultation visits, prescription medication (e.g., muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, opioid and non-opioid analgesics), referral for diagnostic testing (e.g., lab work, imaging) or specialist consultation, as well as other co-interventions (e.g., visits with nurses, dieticians, social workers, or physiotherapists) as determined by their PCP. PCPs will also engage study participants in a formal effort to reduce their opioid use within the framework of each CHC's current opioid-reduction practices.

Intervention Type OTHER

Usual Medical Care + Chiropractic Care

Treatment sessions may include high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulative therapy, as well as any or all of the following: spinal mobilization, soft-tissue massage/trigger point therapy, education and reassurance (e.g., pain management, ergonomic and activities of daily living recommendations), and home advice (e.g., icing, spinal stretching, core muscle strengthening, and cardiovascular exercises). As part of the intervention, chiropractic clinicians will engage PCPs in a collaborative effort to support opioid tapering. Consistent with current clinical practice guidelines, participants will be provided up to a maximum of 18 chiropractic visits during the active care period, although participants may continue with treatment after the 12-week period (e.g., one visit, every 2-4 weeks) to manage episodes of exacerbation/flare-up.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Clusters

* CHC in Canada
* Roster of ≥ 3,500 patients
* One or more opioid-reducing strategies implemented as part of their standard medical services (e.g., chart audits, tracked performance metrics related to high dose prescribing)

Participants

* Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years)
* Diagnosis of chronic non-cancer spinal pain (i.e., back or neck pain of ≥ 12 weeks' duration, not associated with cancer)
* Actively receiving one or more opioid prescriptions (minimum dose of 50 mg MED, dispensed over a period of at least 3 consecutive months)
* Interested in reducing their opioid dose
* Cognitive ability and language skills required to complete the outcome measures
* Provision of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Clusters

• CHCs that employ chiropractors or have currently established chiropractic programs

Participants

* Individuals already receiving chiropractic care
* Opioid-naive (or \< 90 consecutive days of opioid prescription) at baseline
* Total active opioid dosage of \< 50 mg MED at baseline
* Actively receiving treatment for opioid use disorder (e.g., methadone, naloxone)
* Spinal neoplasms or other 'red flag' diagnoses (e.g., fractures, infections, inflammatory arthritis, or cauda equina syndrome)
* Anticipated problems with the participant being available for follow-up (e.g., incarceration, or planned incarceration)
* The participant is or may be enrolled in a competing trial
* Prior enrolment in the ACCESS-DC trial
* Other reason to exclude the participant, as approved by the Methods Centre

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No