The National Institute of Chiropractic Research (NICR), founded in Minnesota in 1987, was the brainchild of Arlan Fuhr,DC, a 1961 graduate of the Logan Basic College of Chiropractic. This nonprofit institute raises funds for fundamental scientific, clinical and historical research and scholarship in chiropractic. The NICR also has a modest extramural grant-making program.
Dr. Fuhr, president of the NICR since its establishment, is perhaps best known in the profession as president of Activator Methods, Inc., and co-inventor of the Activator adjusting instrument. He was the recipient of the earliest known federal grant for chiropractic scientific research: $50,000 from the National Institutes of Health, Small Business Innovative Research Grants Program in 1985.
These initial steps into the world of research and grant-writing produced several insights, including an awareness of the acute need for greater funding of research and scholarship in chiropractic. Dr. Fuhr realized his own need to better understand the research field. He enrolled in coursework in clinical research methodology offered to field practitioners by the Northwestern College of Chiropractic.
The NICR was initially conceived to bolster the financing of scientific studies in chiropractic, but over the years its mission has broadened considerably. It has granted more than $678,000 for research, prizes for scholarly works, and donations to organizations pursuing parallel goals. Every opportunity to partner with allied research agencies and funding sources has been explored; "matching grants" have been a popular means of expanding its reach beyond available resources. Projects have involved research and scholarship in clinical science; clinical research methodology; clinically relevant basic science; principles of chiropractic; studies of the chiropractic literature; the history of the chiropractic and alternative healing arts; and the promotion of archival resources.
The scholarly productivity of the NICR includes: 93 original papers (excluding letters to the editor) published in peer-reviewed and scholarly periodicals; 10 book chapters, four books and 101 papers presented at various professional, scientific and history conferences and to Congressional committees. (An e-mail attachment list of all NICR scholarly products is available from JCKeating@aol.com).
The impact and breadth of NICR's contributions may be gauged by considering the journals in which NICR-supported projects have been published:
Yet another indicator of the institute's influence upon the academic and professional communities within and beyond the chiropractic profession is provided by a list of sponsors of various conferences where NICR-supported papers have been presented:
The range of competencies within the NICR governing body enables it to generate "maximum bang for the buck" in its academic pursuits. The scientific and/or scholarly merits of external grant applications and internal funding proposals are reviewed by a four-person executive committee of the board of directors; final decisions to fund projects are the prerogative of the full board.
Current Officers and Members of the NICR Board of Directors:
The one limiting factor in the NICR's ability to produce has been availability of funds. Almost all of the money raised by NICR has come from the chiropractic profession: its practitioners, suppliers and a few patients. While recognizing its need to expand the scope of fund-raising activities, the NICR needs your support. For further information, contact:
National Institute of Chiropractic Research
3714 E. Indian School Road
Phoenix AZ 85018
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
