Advanced Health Research Institute
A 501c3 non-profit organization
Dr. Richard T. Hansen, D.M.D., Director
Introduction
According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the second most common neurological disorder in the United States, headaches being number one. However, back pain is the most common cause of job related disability and missed work, with Americans spending over $50 billion each year on back related problems. More than 65 million Americans suffer from lower back pain each year and backaches are the second most common reason for doctor visits. Fifty percent of patients who suffer a back problem will have another experience within one year. Some experts estimate that 80% of the population will experience a back related problem within their lifetime.
The Back and Back Pain
The back is a uniquely specialized area of the body consisting of the hard spine, which supports the body as well as providing a conduit for the spinal nerves that provide sensory, motor and autonomic function to all below the head structures; the soft discs that insulate and allow for lubricated movement of the vertebrae and the muscles that support, stabilize and provide movement of the spinal area. Pain is a very important biological signaling system that alerts us to a problem and causes us to react through avoidance and restriction of activity for our protection and repair. Pain can occur through the direct irritation or injury to a nerve root near the spine, fluid swelling and inflammation of any surrounding structure, including lymphatic stagnation, muscle strain or injury.
Research Requirements
Due to the ever escalating costs on American business and their health care plans attributed to back pain and injury, a pilot study was conducted by Becker Health Solutions in Minnesota. The pilot study involved taking ten patients with chronic back pain and dysfunction that were recommended back surgery as their final treatment option and treating each with a customized program to eliminate the pain, regenerate the degenerative disease process and normalize back function.
After one year, all ten are pain free with nearly 90% normal function without drugs, surgery or ongoing physical therapy. The total costs for the year averaged about #3500, a very small fraction of what the conventional treatment options would involve and with far superior health outcomes.
What is now needed is to reproduce this pilot study at multi-site locations, with a sample size of 100 patients. If this is as successful as anticipated, the program could be incorporated into corporation wellness programs saving vast amounts of direct and indirect employee expenses associated with the rising costs of corporate health care. This study would be conducted as a formal research project to be published and offered to any corporation interested in curbing health care expenditure, as well as providing life changing, quality of life enhancing benefits to their employees.
The timing for this study is critical, as corporate health expenses are spiraling out of control. With back related expense comprising the single largest of these expenses, this research may provide a cost effective alternative to drugs, surgery and poor health outcomes. Unfortunately, almost all research being funded today is drug based provided by the pharmaceutical industry. Private individuals, corporations and foundations are urgently needed to explore other solutions. We, and the health of corporate America and their employees, are counting on your vision, your desire to effect positive change for society, and your support.
Clinical Investigators
Dr. Richard T. Hansen, D.M.D. - Study Director
Dr. Hansen has helped pioneer many advanced techniques in health care, including the clinical trials for the FDA clearance for hard tissue applications for lasers in dentistry. Dr. Hansen is director of research at the Advanced Health Research Institute and has been on faculty at UCLA School of Dentistry.
Dr. Kurt Woeller, D.O. - Osteopathic Physician
Specializes in natural medicine and is medical director for Biohealth Diagnostics. Dr. Woeller has an extensive background as a researcher and educator in the many alternative and complementary therapies available to treat and prevent disease.
Dr. Daniel Bivens, D.C. - Dr. of Chiropractic
A graduate of Life of Chiropractic College West, he continued to perform much clinical research and is a frequent lecturer on health issues, clinical nutrition and natural medicine. He is a physician consultant for Biohealth Diagnostics and is a Chiropractic continuing education provider for the state of California.
Along with several other qualified and dedicated persons
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