SCU Faculty Dr. Robb Russell Presents New Research at the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine 2025

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) continued its commitment to advancing integrative health research as Dr. Robb Russell presented new study findings at the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The international congress brings together experts from around the world to share emerging evidence and collaborate on approaches that strengthen global health and patient care.

Dr. Russell attended alongside fellow SCU faculty members Dr. Anu Kizhakkeveettil, Dr. Steffany Moonaz, and Dr. Leah Grout. His presentation shared results from a recently completed SCU-led study that contributes new insights into how inflammatory back pain may present in chiropractic primary-care settings.

Expanding Understanding of Inflammatory Back Pain Through MRI Findings

At the congress, Dr. Russell presented findings from the study titled:
“The proportion of abnormal pelvis MRI findings in patients presenting for chiropractic care with possible inflammatory back pain.”

Principal investigator Emmanual Katsaros, DO, from Western University of Health Sciences, senior investigator Michael Weisman, MD from Stanford University, and radiologist Xenofon Baraliakos, MD, from Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany, collaborated with SCU co-authors Dr. Steffany Moonaz, Dr. Melissa Nagare, and Dr. Hector Rivera-Melo, in this project which examined how frequently MRI abnormalities appear among patients who visit chiropractic clinics with symptoms suggestive of inflammatory back pain — specifically, potential early indicators of axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA).

Why the Research Matters

According to Dr. Russell, delayed diagnosis is common in axSpA, often because:

• Chronic back pain is widespread,
• Symptoms may appear early but are subtle,
• Non-rheumatology providers may be less familiar with the condition, and
• Radiographs can miss early-stage inflammatory changes.

The study aimed to determine how often sacroiliac joint MRIs show abnormalities in a primary-care chiropractic population where patients had experienced inflammatory back pain symptoms for more than three months.

Key Findings From the Study

Previous research suggested that roughly one-third of patients screened for inflammatory back pain show abnormal sacroiliac MRI findings — but those studies focused on pre-screened populations, not general primary-care environments.

SCU’s study found:

• 13.3% of patients had abnormal sacroiliac joint MRI findings suggestive of axSpA
• Over 90% of patients self-referred for chiropractic care, reducing pre-selection bias
• The prevalence likely reflects what may be found in other U.S. primary-care settings

These findings offer a more realistic picture of how common early inflammatory changes may be in everyday clinical practice.

Surprising MRI Patterns

Dr. Russell shared that their team did not observe the higher rates reported in previous studies, which confirms that earlier data may have reflected pre-selected, higher-risk groups.

Another unexpected finding was that 13% of subjects exhibited findings suggestive of inflammatory changes of the hips.

The SCU study instead provides a more generalizable understanding that can aid front-line clinicians.

Practical Takeaways for Providers

Dr. Russell emphasized a key message:

“Sacroiliac joint and hip MRI abnormalities were frequent in a youthful population screened for inflammatory back pain symptoms and could represent undiagnosed spondyloarthropathy.”

Early identification of these findings may help reduce diagnostic delays, ensuring patients receive appropriate care and referral.

Future Directions: Continuing SCU’s Research Momentum

Dr. Russell shared that two follow-up projects are already underway:

1. Comparing MRI interpretations
   • The research team is analyzing differences between community radiologists and expert readers to better understand diagnostic consistency.
2. Following patients with abnormal MRI findings
   • Researchers will contact patients from the study to determine whether symptoms persist and whether formal diagnoses of spondyloarthropathy have been made.

He also noted that larger, future studies could explore the clinical significance of abnormal sacroiliac or hip MRI findings in young adults. Such work may require expanded screening — including both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals — and additional funding.

Sharing SCU Research Expertise Globally

During the congress, Dr. Russell was also invited to lecture chiropractic students at Centro Universitário Gama e Souza (UNIGAMA) in Rio de Janeiro. The visit coincided with World Spine Day 2025 and offered an opportunity to engage with students eager to learn about integrative approaches to musculoskeletal care.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to spend part of World Spine Day with such delightful students and faculty members,” said Russell.