| Dr. William Morgan is clinical department head of the chiropractic clinic at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, known as "The President's Hospital." He is also the chiropractic consultant to the Office of the Attending Physician in Washington, D.C. |
To most people, the word disillusionment is synonymous with pessimism or cynicism. This perception is flawed. As a disillusioned optimist, I feel that being disillusioned is the healthiest of all mindsets. To have an illusion or false representation uncovered is empowering.
When children first see a circus, they are enchanted by the wonder of it all - the costumes, the acts, the hype, the lights, and the thrills. But when adults go to the circus, they are no longer taken in by the illusions of the event. An adult sees the soiled costumes, the torn stockings, and the emptiness on the faces of the performers. They see the cramped quarters of the animals. They see through the illusion that the circus presents; they are dis-illusioned. They see things as they really are, and seeing things as they really are is healthy.
Most of us would not be chiropractors if we had not seen through the illusion of the drug industry. We were disillusioned with the medical model of health care. Even now, when we watch commercials for the latest high-profile drug on TV, we are exposed to the illusion of health through chemistry. The drug companies present an illusion that drugs can make you healthier. It is our duty to dispel this illusion. Drugs are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle of exercise, healthy eating, discretion and chiropractic care. However, chiropractic is not impervious from having its own illusions.
Through my career, I have seen my share of chiropractic illusions. Illusions have promoted everything from chiropractic techniques, promotional videos, and nutritional products, to "high-tech" subluxation detection equipment. One of the illusions seen in chiropractic is that adjustments are a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. Being well-adjusted, chiropractically, does not give you license to forego healthy life choices.
The truth of the matter is that chiropractic wellness care that does not engage patients in the process of managing their own health care leads to an unhealthy relationship of dependence upon the chiropractor. We should include all aspects of a healthy lifestyle in practicing chiropractic wellness, as a means to enhance the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic wellness should include the promotion of healthy eating, aerobic exercise, ergonomics, smoking cessation, spinal exercises, strength and flexibility training, temperance, and discretion.
Recently I had the opportunity to hear a well-known chiropractic intellectual and philosopher discuss his strong reliance on chiropractic adjustments to maintain his good health. As he spoke, the clinician in me went to work. I noted that this doctor was 50-60 pounds overweight, underconditioned, had postural protraction of his shoulders, and anterior weight-bearing of his cervical spine. It was obvious to me that he was not actively working to promote his own wellness. He was not adequately performing aerobic, strength or flexibility training, or eating with discretion. Apparently, he was relying solely on the chiropractic adjustment for his source of wellness. While I may believe that adjustments promote health, I also know that I must ultimately take responsibility for my own wellness.
To truly be considered a profession of wellness, we need to engage our patients on many levels of health choices. If we exclusively treat neuromusculoskeletal conditions, we will become doctors of manual medicine. If we exclusively evaluate, identify and adjust subluxations, we will become chiropractic technicians. Most chiropractors practice somewhere between these poles - they have wellness practices with a strong neuromusculoskeletal emphasis. These mainstream practices are well-poised to promote health and function. By incorporating exercise and healthy living into our practices, we will become a true wellness alternative to the drug culture of this society.
William E. Morgan, DC
Chiropractic Department
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
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?
