Where are the chiropractic clinical outcomes registries? A scoping review

TL;DR

This study finds only one existing registry tracking chiropractic patient outcomes, highlighting a major gap in data collection for the field.

Contribution

The paper identifies a significant lack of chiropractic-specific clinical outcomes registries and highlights Spine IQ as the sole existing example.

Findings

Only one chiropractic-specific clinical outcomes registry, Spine IQ, was identified globally.

Spine IQ collected data from over 2000 low back pain patients using patient-reported outcome measures.

Three sources were excluded as they did not meet the criteria for clinical outcomes registries.

Abstract

This scoping review maps chiropractic-specific clinical outcomes registries.

Clinical outcomes registries track patient outcomes to improve evidence-based practice and quality of care; however, their role in chiropractic remains unclear.

This research adhered to Joanna Briggs Institute’s scoping review outline and methodology, as well as the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were searched on January 9, 2025, with subsequent search of grey literature and citation tracking. Sources were included if they described chiropractic-specific registries that reported clinical outcomes data. Two reviewers independently screened 604 citations, extracting data into Excel. Variables included registry characteristics and clinical outcomes collected.

Only one dedicated chiropractic clinical outcomes registry was identified: Spine IQ, launched in 2016 in the US with approximately 50 chiropractors submitting data on over 2000 low back pain patients. Spine IQ collected patient-reported outcome measures including the Oswestry Disability Index, Bournemouth Questionnaire, and the PROMIS physical function measure. By 2018, Spine IQ had completed its pilot phase and planned expansion to 100 clinics. Three sources were excluded: one spine registry not collecting chiropractic outcomes and two databases that included chiropractic data in publications but did not qualify as registries.

This review identified only Spine IQ as a dedicated chiropractic clinical outcomes registry, revealing a significant gap in registry infrastructure within the profession globally. The profession should explore the development of registries to enhance care quality, societal impact, and opportunities for collaborative research.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12998-025-00583-2.

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