People: Meet Allison Legg, PhD student

How can I help my patients?

I’m Allison, I’m a PhD student in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and a proud member of the BonES (Bone Health and Exercise Science) Lab.

I work as a chiropractor, and it’s always been a goal of mine to help people. During my chiropractic education I found that I gravitated toward older adult patients. My PhD came to be as a bit of a necessity; I needed more information on how to better help my older adult patients. I also realized that there was a gap in care for what chiropractors can contribute for older adult patients specifically in an evidence-informed and safe way. I’d like my research to teach chiropractors how to help older adult patients, within the context of our specialty, which is manual therapy. My PhD projects have included fact finding missions to understand how chiropractors are treating older adult patients at risk of fracture and what the literature says about the types of manual therapy that are being used. I also have a project where I get to deliver a virtual intervention for individuals who have sustained an osteoporotic vertebral fracture, which is one of my favorites because I get to connect with patient participants in a meaningful way, like I do in clinical practice.

My Research in the BonES lab

Most of my research focuses on the intersection between manual therapy and osteoporosis.

My research aims to:

• understand how individuals at risk of fracture are being treated by chiropractors and manual therapist and what knowledge gaps those providers have
• evaluate an intervention that provides education and training for individuals who have sustained osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
• share research with my community of healthcare professionals to improve outcomes and practices.

My Journey & Goals

I did an undergraduate degree in Biology at the Wilfrid Laurier University. I completed an MSc in Science at the University of Waterloo, before attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College where I earned my Doctor of Chiropractic. I’ve worked as a chiropractor since 2013, and I also teach at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, both in the undergraduate program, and the clinical internship. I am currently working on my PhD at the University of Waterloo.

Although I enjoy clinical practice, I have found that continued education and development are vital to being the best provider I can be. As my profession has changed and evolved in the 13 years I’ve been in practice, it has not been enough to rely on what I’ve learned, I am committed to continue to grow and progress as a provider (and accidentally as a researcher) to do well for my patients.

My goals going forward are to finish my PhD, but I also want to share what I’ve learned, and how it has impacted how I treat patients with my chiropractic communities, and I want to continue improving care for older adult patients.

A Personal Note

I like to play hockey, pickleball, lift weights, read (audiobooks count right?), and spend time with my kids and husband.