Research Focus
Welcome to my research page where I discuss my PhD work on Back Pain in the Older Adult under Chiropractic Care. During my career as a chiropractor, I saw firsthand how back pain can affect one’s quality of life, especially in older adults. This inspired me to pursue a PhD to gain a deeper understanding of the human body and the effects of chiropractic care on back pain in older adults.
My research focused on identifying the course and characteristics of low back pain in older adults. I conducted an observational study that looked at a variety of pain, disability, phyiscal activity, comorbidities in an older adult visiting a chiropractor.
I am proud to have contributed to the body of knowledge in chiropractic care and back pain management for older adults. I have published several scientific articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals. Here is a list of my publications:
Published Papers
- Jenks AD, Hoekstra T, Axén I, de Luca K, Field J, Newell D, Hartvigsen J, French SD, Koes B, van Tulder MW, Rubinstein SM. BAck complaints in the elders – chiropractic (BACE-C): protocol of an international cohort study of older adults with low back pain seeking chiropractic care. Chiropr Man Therap. 2020 Apr 1;28(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12998-020-00302-z. PMID: 32238185; PMCID: PMC7110664.
- Jenks A, de Zoete A, van Tulder M, Rubinstein SM; International IPD-SMT group. Spinal manipulative therapy in older adults with chronic low back pain: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Eur Spine J. 2022 Jul;31(7):1821-1845. doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07210-1. Epub 2022 May 28. PMID: 35633383.
- Jenks A, Hoekstra T, van Tulder M, Ostelo RW, Rubinstein SM, Chiarotto A. Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index, and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale: Which Has Superior Measurement Properties in Older Adults With Low Back Pain? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Jul;52(7):457-469. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2022.10802. Epub 2022 May 18. PMID: 35584027.
- Jenks A, Axen I, van Tulder M, Rubinstein SM, Hoekstra T. Trajectories of Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis. Submitted
- Vergeld V, Martin Ginis KA, Jenks AD. Psychological interventions for reducing fear avoidance beliefs among people with chronic back pain. Rehabil Psychol. 2021 Nov;66(4):386-403. doi: 10.1037/rep0000394. Epub 2021 Sep 30. PMID: 34591524.