Joel G. Pickar, D.C., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
pickar_j@palmer.edu
563-884-5150
Research Interests
My research activities were continuously externally funded between 1993 and 2012. My laboratory studied neurophysiological issues related to the vertebral column and to chiropractic manipulation. My research interests include the effects of spinal manipulation on the nervous system and the effects of biomechanical and biochemical conditions in paraspinal tissues on the nervous system including primary afferents, sympathetic efferents, central neurons and muscles reflexes.
Research Keywords
spinal manipulation, muscle spindles, paraspinal muscles, multifidus, longissimus
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of California, Davis
- Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), Palmer College of Chiropractic
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Brown University
Recent Awards/Key Committees
Fellow, Palmer Academy of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic – 2013
Courses Taught
- CLIN620
Sensory Neurophysiology - CLIN640/ANAT610
Biomechanical & Neurophysiology Approaches to Basic Science Spinal Investigations - CLIN521, CLIN51521
Survey of Chiropractic Research - CLIN640
Independent Study
Funded Grants/Projects 2011-Present
Developmental Center to Study Mechanisms & Effects of Chiropractic Manipulation (DCRCII)
Principal Investigator
DCRCII Project 1: Neural & Biomechanical Responses to Mechanical Features of Spinal Manipulation
Co-Leader
LEAF #6 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Paraspinal muscle spindle response to intervertebral fixation and segmental thrust level during spinal manipulation in an animal model
Author(s): Reed WR, Pickar JG
Publication: Spine Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Year: 2015
Position sensitivity of feline paraspinal muscle spindles to vertebral movement in the lumbar spine
Author(s): Cao DY, Pickar, JG, Ge W, Ianuzzi A, Khalsa PS
Publication: Journal of Neurophysiology
Volume: 101
Issue: 4
Page(s): 1722-9
Year: 2009
Paraspinal muscle spindle responses to the duration of a spinal manipulation under force control
Author(s): Pickar JG, Kang YM
Publication: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume: 29
Issue: 1
Page(s): 22-31
Year: 2006
Vertebral position alters paraspinal muscle spindle responsiveness in the feline spine: effect of positioning duration
Author(s): Ge W, Long CR, Pickar JG
Publication: Journal of Physiology
Volume: 569
Issue: 2
Page(s): 655-65
Year: 2005
Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation
Author(s): Pickar JG
Publication: The Spine Journal
Volume: 2
Page(s): 357-371
Year: 2002
An in vivo preparation for investigating neural responses to controlled loading of a lumbar vertebra
Author(s): Pickar JG
Publication: Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume: 89
Page(s): 87-96
Year: 1999
