AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY
On 15 June 1990, the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub was founded as the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics (NIKKB), the first Scandinavian education and research centre for chiropractic.
The Institute was opened on 8 October 1991 by the then county mayor of Funen, Jens Peter Fisker.
At the same time as NIKKB was established, the Regions’ Board for Wages and Tariffs and the Danish Chiropractors’ Association had resolved “that with effect from 1 April 1990, a fund would be set up to advance chiropractic research and postgraduate education” in Denmark.
In 1994 the objective of the fund was extended to provide the financial basis for NIKKB, and thus the funding of the institute took its present form.
BACKGROUND FOR THE FOUNDING OF THE INSTITUTE
The intention behind NIKKB was to support endeavours to establish an inter-Scandinavian university-based scientific education in chiropractic. This was proposed in 1989 in a joint report from Odense University and the Scandinavian chiropractors’ associations.
Earlier the same year, the Nordic Council had decided to set up a place where students could meet chiropractic as it is practiced, and to establish an organisation to ensure that the education provided was based on a solid foundation of science and research.
As an approved educational institution, the original objective of NIKKB was to carry out the clinical part of the education in collaboration with Odense University and Odense University Hospital, to present the clinical and theoretical teaching in the postgraduate part of the chiropractor’s education, and to carry out research into chiropractic and biomechanics.
In 1994, when a university-based education in chiropractic was established in Denmark, the objective of NIKKB was revised.
Today the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub is a knowledge hub focused on knowledge dissemination and quality development within the field of chiropractic.
ORGANISATION OF THE CHIROPRACTIC KNOWLEDGE HUB
The Chiropractic Knowledge Hub is governed by a Board of 3 to 4 appointed members appointed by the Danish Regions, Danish Chiropractors’ Association, the Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Education and the Regions’ Board for Wages and Tariffs, the Region of Southern Denmark. The day-to-day management is in the hands of a director who is also the head of research.
The Chiropractic Knowledge Hub is financed by the Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Education, which gets its means directly from Danish chiropractors and the Regions’ Board for Wages and Tariffs.
The Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Education co-finances several of the research projects at the institute. Grants from the foundation are awarded on the basis of specific applications, made out on project basis. Funds granted for research projects are not included in NIKKB’s total operating budget.
The Chiropractic Knowledge Hub consists of a research, a radiology, a postgraduate and a quality unit and is staffed according to the various tasks carried out by the institute. At the end of 2020, the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub employed 22 people on a permanent basis, while a number of persons were in consultant and/or affiliated appointments.
KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS
1990
NIKKB moved into premises at Klosterbakken 20 in the centre of Odense, the former domicile of a worsted spinning company: “Odense Kamgarnsspinderi”.
1991
The first Danish Act of Chiropractic was passed, regulating chiropractors’ practice and recognising them through an authorisation scheme as fully qualified, publicly recognised providers of treatment in the Danish health service.
1994
The first students in chiropractic and clinical biomechanics began at Odense University.
In 1994, NIKKB began publishing a list of research papers by the researchers at the institute as a direct result of the institute’s research. The list is updated when new research papers are published.
1995
The first Danish PhD in chiropractic was awarded in. Since then, several PhD projects have been completed, some in association with the University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Hospital of Funen and NIKKB.
NIKKB began publishing the professional periodical NIKKB NYT, which was issued six times a year as part of the periodical “Kiropraktoren”. Its main purpose was to disseminate research results and new knowledge about chiropractic. NIKKB also publishes a comprehensive annual report with a detailed description of all research projects.
1999
NIKKB established an independent postgraduate education department, whose purpose is to provide and coordinate postgraduate education for Scandinavian chiropractors. Every year, NIKKB offers about twenty courses of postgraduate education to more than 400 attendees mainly from Scandinavia.
2000
An agreement between the Danish Chiropractors’ Association and the National Health Insurance established NIKKB as the provider of radiology service and consultancy to Danish chiropractors. In connection with this, the radiology department at NIKKB was established. One of the main tools under this scheme is the quality handbook, which is available in electronic form. The physicist scheme, offered against payment, now has well over 150 subscribing clinics.
2002
The then deputy county mayor, Karsten Uno Petersen, was appointed chairman of the Board of the institute. Karsten Uno Petersen is now a member of the Regional Council of the Region of Southern Denmark and chairman of the Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Education. As of 1 January 2010, he is still chairman of the Board of NIKKB. Karsten Uno Petersen succeeded the then member of Funen County Council, Ejvind Hansen.
2005
NIKKB prepared a research action plan for the period 2005-2010 and had it approved. A number of areas for special action have been designated under the headings of epidemiological back research, clinical biomechanical research and clinical research. Through this action plan, which is presently being further developed to cover the period 2011–2015, the institute seeks to create a framework for continued positive development and the high level of activity that has always characterised NIKKB’s research.
2006
The institute moved to new and more modern premises at Forskerparken in Odense, in the professional environment of the University of Southern Denmark.
NIKKB initiated the creation of a joint Scandinavian research forum, the Nordic Chiropractors’ Research Forum, with the objective of strengthening the exchange of knowledge and experience about research into the musculoskeletal system. The forum has annual meetings where e.g., PhD projects from the Scandinavian countries are presented.
Since 2006, NIKKB has been a part of the centre research collaboration, Clinical Locomotion Science, with the University of Southern Denmark and Hospital of Funen. The aim of this collaboration is to establish a co-operation forum to provide the framework for development of networks related to research into disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
2007
The institute got a new logo and an integrated visual profile.
The institute registered the trademark “NIKKB” with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office and internationally with WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization).
NIKKB published its first issue of the NIKKB NORDIC NEWSLETTER in English.
NIKKB participated for the first time at ”Lægedage”, an annual conference and exhibition for general medical practitioners at the Bella Center, Copenhagen, in order to get a wider dialogue with general practitioners. Conference participation has become an important platform specifically for dialogue with other parts of the health service.
2008
The radiology department at NIKKB set up KirPACS, a central image server for storing digital x-rays, available to Danish chiropractic clinics for a fee. KirPACS provides a unique facility for Danish chiropractors to store digital x-ray imagery securely but accessibly, and makes image communication between the different sections of the health service possible.
2009
Chiropractor, doctor and PhD Henrik Wulff Christensen was appointed as director and head of research at the institute. Henrik Wulff Christensen is the sixth director of NIKKB.
NIKKB formulated a vision and mission statement for the work of the institute, which outlines its strategic objectives. The work behind the vision and mission helps to tell the outside world where we are going as an institute and why we are doing what we do.
In the coming years NIKKB will be working towards closer integration with the research environment at the Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark and plans finally to move onto the Campus. Legally, NIKKB will remain an independent entity with its own employees, Board, funding etc.
2010
On 15 June NIKKB celebrated its 20th anniversary.
2013
On 1 February, NIKKB realized a vision that has been in the making for more than 11 years: NIKKB moved into premises in connection with the research environment around the Department of Sport and Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark. In connection with the move, NIKKB remains a legally independent unit with its own employees, its own board of directors, its own finances, etc.
2014
NIKKB and the Danish chiropractors began work on developing KirCACS, the chiropractors’ own IT system. In 2016, it was opened to the first users of KirCACS, and since then, a number of chiropractic clinics have subscribed to the system and have started using it in their daily work. KirCACS is adapted to the needs of chiropractors and web based. You can log in to the system from any computer, and KirCACS is always updated to the latest version of the system.
2015
NIKKB celebrated its 25th anniversary on 15 June. The anniversary was marked with a reception at the department’s premises at SDU on 14 August.
2016
In connection with the Danish Chiropractic Association’s re-entry into the European Chiropractor’s Union (ECU) a European research institute, the European Centre for Chiropractic Research Excellence (ECCRE), was established and placed at NIKKB. The purpose of ECCRE is to contribute to the further development and strengthening of research into musculoskeletal disorders in Europe. The placement at NIKKB will undoubtedly contribute to fulfilling the institute’s objectives due to the possible synergies between researchers at NIKKB and ECCRE.
2018
At the beginning of the year, NIKKB’s new research strategy, ”Connecting with the patient”, came into force. The research strategy applies to the period 2018 - 2022 and places even greater emphasis on practice-based research via NIKKB’s network of chiropractic research clinics. During the term of the research strategy, NIKKB’s researchers will focus on how musculoskeletal disorders develop throughout life and how to implement new knowledge in the daily practice of the clinics.
On 30 May, Karsten Uno Petersen resigned as chairman of NIKKB’s board of directors after 16 years as chairman. During his period as chairman, Karsten Uno Petersen was involved in developing NIKKB into one of the leading knowledge centres within research, continuing education and imaging in the field of musculoskeletal disorders. During his presidency, NIKKB introduced the institute’s research strategy and moved to the University of Southern Denmark, just as the institute was given a central role in ECCRE.
Regional politician Annette Roed, who in her political work is chairman of the Committee for Local Health Services, the Social Democrats in the Central Jutland Region was appointed as the new chairman of NIKKB. Annette Roed also became chairman of the Foundation for the Promotion of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Continuing Education (the Chiropractor Foundation).
2020
On 2 December, NIKKB changed its name to the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub.
When NIKKB was founded in 1990, it was to support the efforts to establish a joint Nordic education in chiropractic and the institute was run by the Nordic chiropractic associations in collaboration. Therefore, it made good sense to use the name Nordic Institute for Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, in everyday speech NIKKB.
With the establishment of a university-based education in clinical biomechanics at SDU in 1994, one of the original purposes of the department was fulfilled. since then, the other Nordic chiropractic associations have gradually left the NIKKB board and the Nordic influence has disappeared. The development has made the name NIKKB obsolete and the desire has arisen to change the name so that it more accurately reflects our identity.
The new name reflects our identity as an inter-nationally leading hub for research, knowledge dissemination and quality development in the chiropractic profession. We are a dynamic knowledge environment that raises the quality of chiropractic internationally through partnerships and networks, original research, greater focus on interaction and dialogue between research and practice and through active influence and participation in the ongoing health debate in society.
2021
In connection with the Collective Agreement on Chiropractic 2021 between the Regions' Wage and Tariff Board and the Danish Chiropractic Association, it was decided to allocate funds to a quality unit that will work with quality in chiropractic practice.
It was also decided that the quality unit should be placed at the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, which is responsible for the operation within the overall framework. Thus, the unit Quality in Chiropractic Practice (KviK) was founded.
2022
Regional politician Annette Blynel (Region of Southern Denmark) became the new Chairman of the board at the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, replacing Regional politician Annette Roed (Central Denmark Region), who continued as a member of the board.
2023
The quality unit, KviK, published national results and clinic-specific reports on Patient-Perceived Quality in Chiropractic Practice 2023 (PoKK). The Continuing Education function introduced a new training program: Masterclass, with the first two masterclasses being Masterclass in Sports Chiropractic and Masterclass in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.
2024
The Chiropractors’ Knowledge Center launched its new website, which differs significantly from previous versions. The site has undergone a major visual overhaul, featuring a modern, user-friendly design with a simple and inviting layout in muted colors. The goal has been to enhance user experience by ensuring quicker and easier access to the most important areas with just a few clicks. Kiroviden.dk is now a state-of-the-art platform that meets today’s demands for accessibility, speed, and user-friendliness.
The Chiropractic Knowledge Hub’s research strategy ‘Connecting with the patient’ was updated to version 2.0. The new edition covers the period 2024–2028 and constitutes the hub’s fifth research strategy. It builds upon our fourth research strategy and the results achieved based on it.
In the last quarter of 2024, the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub presented groundbreaking news when we announced that 15 years of work had culminated in practicing chiropractors becoming the first to access image descriptions in the interregional imaging index across all five regions. Additionally, they can access images through the central IBI in four out of five regions, the Central Jutland Region, Region Zealand, Northern Jutland Region, and the Capital Region. In the Southern Denmark Region, efforts are still underway to enable image access through our solution.