 In addition to maintaining his full time chiropractic practice in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Chris Colloca is actively involved in chiropractic research. Together with Tony S. Keller, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont (Burlington, VT) and other collaborations, Dr. Colloca has been involved in basic science, clinical, and outcomes research.
 RIGHT (TOP): Dr. Colloca's State of the Art Chiropractic Center houses both a private practice with three Chiropractors & a Physical Therapist, a clinical research facility.
LEFT: Dr. Chris Colloca (L) and Dr. Tony Keller (R) pictured at a banquet during the European Society of Biomechanics held at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin in August, 2000.
RIGHT (BOTTOM): Surface electromyographic mount for collection of neuromuscular responses during chiropractic adjustments.
Since 1998, Dr. Keller has made bi-yearly visits to Dr. Colloca's clinical research facility to conduct chiropractic research on actual patients. Together, they have now collected data on Neuromuscular responses to chiropractic adjustments using surface electromyography. This work has led to several studies presented at international scientific spine conferences and subsequent publications in the biomedical literature. For a full report on neuromuscular responses to chiropractic adjustments click HERE!
Dr. Colloca delivers a chiropractic adjustment while nerve root recordings are being obtained in a patient undergoing lumbar spine surgery. |
Some of the most exciting and unique original research involves neurophysiological recordings from the spinal nerve roots in patients undergoing spinal surgery in conjunction with orthopaedic surgeons. Neurophysiological responses have been recorded during chiropractic adjustments for the first time with such a protocol. View actual adjustments being performed in the operating room HERE!
In a comparative controlled clinical trial conducted in Dr. Colloca's clinical research facility, Drs. Keller and Colloca have begun to investigate trunk muscle function in patients receiving chiropractic adjustments as compared to controls.  Dr. Colloca has also collaborated internationally with Dr. Timothy Wood of South Africa on a project comparing different types of spinal manipulation on pain, disability, and functional status of the cervical spine. Functional responses of chiropractic adjustments are perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of chiropractic research. See research demonstrating chiropractic adjustments increasing muscle strength HERE!
 Using implanted bone pins into the spinous processes, Keller and Colloca have examined the biomechanical characteristics of chiropractic adjustments, namely the spine's motion during chiropractic adjustments. Dr. Keller has further developed a mathematical model to predict the spine's motion to different input forces and applied vectors (lines of drive).  Applying the data that they have collected, the model is currently being validated with actual patient data. View an animated clip demonstrating spinal motions to chiropractic adjustments HERE!
 By modifying an instrument used for spinal manipulation to include an impedance head, Drs. Keller and Colloca have biomechanically assessed both normal subjects and clinically relevant patients in the dynamic assessment of spinal stiffness. Today, their research continues investigating postural contributions to spinal stiffness among other projects. Get a look at this state-of-the-art assessment HERE!
Together with Dr. Bradley S. Polkinghorn, chiropractic clinician from Santa Monica, CA, Dr. Colloca has co-authored several case reports on subjects including management of lumbar disc herniation, coccygodynia, post-surgical cervical spine, chest pain, and Ehler's Danlos Syndrome. See some of the papers HERE!
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Research
