Research Day
Explore the Research Day program featuring expert lectures, scientific presentations and panel discussions on musculoskeletal health and patient-centred research.
From Voice to Evidence: Bridging Patient Experience and Musculoskeletal Science
Research Day 2026 aims to showcase high-quality research in musculoskeletal health and chiropractic-related fields, and to foster exchange between researchers from different career stages (students, early-, mid-, and advanced-career researchers), as well as clinicians and other knowledge users from Europe and around the world.
We will have two sessions in the morning, in which invited speakers will present their work. The sessions are centered around the topics of the importance of the patient’s voice in MSK health research and the mechanisms of MSK pain and manual treatments. The first session consists of patients’ experience reports, the researchers’ perspective, and a panel discussion to round it off. After a coffee break, mechanisms of MSK pain as well as manual treatments will be explored through six presentations by national and international researchers.
The afternoon will center on the newest research from around the world in two exciting and fast-paced formats to which researchers from all career stages are invited to contribute.
Join us in what will surely be an exciting day of high-level science and thought-provoking discussions!
Research Day – ECU/ChiroSuisse Convention 2026
Thursday, 14.05.2026
Theme: From Voice to Evidence: Bridging Patient Experience and Musculoskeletal Science
Research Day Organising Committee:
Lindsay Gorrell, Cesar Hincapié, Javier Muñoz Laguna, Clara Gieseke Lopes, Luana Nyirö, Petra Schweinhardt, Nathalie Schweyckart
Detailed Programme
7:30 - 8:25
Registration and Welcome Coffee
55'
8:25 - 8:30
Welcome
5'
8:30 - 10:00
Importance of patient’s voice in MSK health research (Chair: Cesar Hincapié)
8:30 - 8:35
Welcome
Cesar Hincapié, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich, Switzerland
5'
8:35 - 8:55
The patient voice
Judith Safford and Thalia Nikoglou, Patient Representatives, Switzerland
20'
8:55 - 9:07
Patient and public involvement project of the SALuBRITY randomised clinical trial
Corina Ryf, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich, Switzerland
Involving patients and clinicians in the design of a randomised clinical trial to assess spinal manual therapy and corticosteroid nerve root injection for patients with lumbosacral radicular pain
12'
9:07 - 9:19
Process evaluation of the SALuBRITY randomised clinical trial: learning and improving with patients and clinicians
Javier Muñoz Laguna, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich, Switzerland
How can participant experiences enhance high-quality trial conduct? Learnings from a qualitative process evaluation study embedded within the SALuBRITY randomised clinical trial
12'
9:19 - 9:31
Decision-making in total knee replacement surgery
Nathalie Schweyckart, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich, Switzerland
Patient and clinician perspectives on health communication and clinical prediction modeling needs for meaningful shared decision-making on total knee replacement surgery
12'
9:31 - 9:43
Citizen science musculoskeletal health research in Switzerland
Clara Gieseke Lopes, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich, Switzerland
PhD focus on MSK health citizen scientists and patient-centred participatory research
12'
9:43 - 10:00
Panel discussion and Q&A
With patients and presenters
Moderator: Cesar Hincapié
17'
90'
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee break
30'
10:30 - 12:00
Mechanisms of MSK pain and manual treatments
10:30 - 10:45
Proteomic evidence of downregulated innate immune responses in chronic low back pain
Carlos Gevers-Montoro, McGill University
15'
10:45 - 11:00
Spinal stiffness and back pain: a common clinical assumption, but what does the evidence say?
Caspar Nim, University of Southern Denmark
15'
11:00 - 11:15
The link between manual treatment, neurophysiology and clinical effects
Lindsay Gorrell, University of Zurich
15'
11:15 - 11:30
The role of proprioception in chronic low back pain and the relationship to manual treatment
Michael Meier, University of Zurich
15'
11:30 - 11:45
Effects of two spinal manipulative therapy techniques on six degree of freedom mechanical properties of porcine spinal segment models
Martha Funabashi, University of Southern Denmark
15'
11:45 - 12:00
Intended vs. actual modulation of force time profiles of spinal manipulation across chiropractors
Luana Nyirö, University of Zurich
15'
90'
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch Break and Networking
60'
13:00 - 13:55
My Research in 3 Slides
13:00 - 13:04
Associations between quantitative sensory testing parameters and pain extent in low back pain
Nils Lennart Reiter, Bern University of Applied Sciences
4'
13:05 - 13:10
Are distinct chronic non-specific low back pain phenotypes associated with different lumbar spine MRI findings?
Serafine Handschin, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:10 - 13:15
Pain education – the quest for easy-to-use material for everyday clinical care
Lusiana Galle, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:15 - 13:20
Comparison of patient characteristics of neck pain patients treated in different clinical chiropractic settings in Switzerland
Fabiana Bassetto, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:20 - 13:25
Parental attitude towards chiropractic intervention before and after treatment in infants with arthrogenic torticollis: an explorative qualitative study
Anke Langenfeld, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:25 - 13:30
Proportion of patients with spinal musculoskeletal complaints within a primary care emergency practice in Switzerland: a study protocol
Hanna Rippert, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:30 - 13:35
Which medicines work best for chronic neck pain? A network meta-analysis of pharmacological treatments
Matthias Schürmann, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich
5'
13:35 - 13:40
From glide to sway: Interplay between fascia biomechanics and proprioception in low back pain
Michelle Fankhauser, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:40 - 13:45
MRI-quantified changes in perfusion and diffusion in spinal segments after high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation: a randomized controlled trial
Alexia Bronwasser, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:45 - 13:50
Kinetic characteristics of thoracic spine manipulation delivered to different manikins by chiropractors and students
Solange Jost, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
13:50 - 13:55
Physiological synchrony during chiropractic care
Camilla Ornella Bernbach, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
5'
55'
13:55 - 14:10
Coffee break
15'
14:10 - 15:10
Lightning Round 1
14:10 - 14:25
Force modulation in thoracic spine manipulation: Insights from human/manikin-based studies
Nathalie Thurnherr, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
15'
14:25 - 14:40
From clinic to collaboration: a chiropractic student’s research journey in musculoskeletal healthcare
Jael Kauth, Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group (EBPI), University of Zurich
15'
14:40 - 14:55
Perspectives of staff and patients on chiropractors integrated into a general medical practice in the UK: a feasibility study
Daniel Moore, AECC School of Chiropractic, Health Sciences University
15'
14:55 - 15:10
Kinetic comparison of high-velocity, low-amplitude thoracic spine manipulation delivered to humans and a manikin by experienced chiropractors
Adrian Bearth, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich
15'
60'
15:10 - 15:30
Coffee break
20'
15:30 - 16:30
Lightning Round 2
15:30 - 15:45
Study 1: Sleep on it: on the postural modulation of cerebrovascular haemodynamics
Study 2: Bad back, bad brain: spinal pain and the systemic link to accelerated cognitive decline
Study 2: Bad back, bad brain: spinal pain and the systemic link to accelerated cognitive decline
Leon Yandle, University of South Wales
15'
15:45 - 16:00
Transforming health services, policy and education: leveraging rehabilitation to respond to Canada’s shifting healthcare needs
André Bussières, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
15'
16:00 - 16:15
Recommended chiropractic techniques and therapeutic modalities for university programs: a Delphi study
Anaïs Drouin, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
15'
16:15 - 16:30
Advanced practices and specialties in chiropractic: a scoping review of training programs, healthcare integration, and clinical effectiveness
Maude Fillion, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
15'
60'
16:30 - 16:45
AWARD PRESENTATIONS – Best Lightning and My Research in 3-Slides Presentations
15'