From Pain Scores to Performance Metrics
Healthcare / Public Health

From Pain Scores to Performance Metrics

Why Chiropractors Must Lead in Outcome-Based Care

Pain has become the dominant language of musculoskeletal healthcare. Numeric pain-rating scales and symptom reports are routinely used as primary indicators of clinical success. But while pain reduction is meaningful, it is an incomplete and often misleading representation of recovery. This has real consequences for patient adherence, long-term outcomes, and how conservative care is perceived within the broader healthcare system.

Christopher Proulx, DC, PhD(ABD), CSCS
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News / Profession
MAHA Meets Chiropractic: Historic Meeting in Washington, D.C.
MAHA Meets Chiropractic: Historic Meeting in Washington, D.C.

A historic meeting between chiropractic and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) leadership took place on March 10th, 2026, in Washington, D.C., featuring representatives from chiropractic national organizations, professional associations and policy principals. The collective goal: advancing the role of chiropractic in improving the health of Americans. Meeting participants focused on long-standing issues that have affected the chiropractic profession for decades, including access to care, reimbursement parity, and ensuring DCs have an appropriate role in national health policy discussions.

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Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
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Diagnosis & Diagnostic Equip
When Radiculopathy Isn't Radiculopathy: A Clinical Series (Pt. 1)
hen Radiculopathy Isn’t Radiculopathy: A Clinical Series

Radicular-like pain of the upper and lower extremities is among the most common presentations in musculoskeletal and spine-related practice. Traditionally, these symptoms are interpreted through a disc-centric and dermatomal framework, often leading clinicians to attribute limb pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness to spinal nerve-root pathology. While this approach is appropriate in cases of true radiculopathy, it frequently falls short when symptoms fail to follow consistent dermatomal patterns or correlate poorly with imaging findings.

Ken Kaufman, DC
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Chronic / Acute Conditions
Chronic Sciatica: Ending the Relapse Cycle
Chronic Sciatica: Ending the Relapse Cycle

A 46-year-old male presented to our clinic with a seven-year history of recurrent low back pain with sciatica. He reported stiffness and discomfort that worsened with prolonged sitting both at his desk job and during evening television time. The patient had seen multiple chiropractors over the years. In every case, spinal manipulation and other passive treatments would bring gradual symptom relief over 2-3 months. However, within another 3-6 months, the symptoms would return. Frustrated – and now considering a spinal injection and possibly surgery if that failed, he came to our office seeking a different approach.

Ronald Feise, DC
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News / Profession  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
A Moment of Silence for Dr. Guy Riekeman (1949-2026)
A Moment of Silence for Dr. Guy Riekeman (1949-2026)

Dr. Guy F. Riekeman, chancellor emeritus and former longtime president (2004-2017) of Life University, has passed away after a five-decade career dedicated to advancing and uplifting the chiropractic profession. Dr. Riekeman was a 1972 Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate whose distinguished career also included serving as chancellor of the Palmer University System (1998-2004) before taking the helm at Life University.

Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
Your Practice / Business
The New Era of Ownership in Chiropractic
The New Era of Ownership in Chiropractic
How Corporate Groups, MSOs and Insurers Are Reshaping a Once-Doctor-Owned Profession

The chiropractic profession is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. For more than a century, chiropractic was defined by small practices, local providers and direct community relationships. But today, a wave of corporate consolidation – driven by private equity, management services organizations (MSOs) and increasingly, insurance-linked musculoskeletal programs – is reshaping who owns chiropractic clinics and how care is delivered.

Sam Wang, DC
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Billing / Fees / Insurance
Should You Be In-Network or Out-of-Network With Insurance?
Should You Be In-Network or Out-of-Network With Insurance?
A Common Myth, Key Exceptions, and Strategic Considerations to Support Long-Term Growth

It’s a new year and many chiropractors are evaluating what will enhance their respective practices, particularly as it relates to their bottom line. One of the most common questions I get is: “Do I need to be credentialed to bill insurance, and what are the best plans to join?” It’s a loaded question – but one every DC ponders. Whether you're already in-network or pondering whether to join, here's what you need to know.

Samuel A. Collins
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Featured

Unethical Influence

An examination of American Medical Association revenue by Influence Watch states that only $34 million of the AMA’s $493 million 2022 total revenue came from membership dues. The lion’s share, $293 million, came from “royalties and credentialing products,” of which pharmaceutical companies are by far the largest purchasers. Other related income included $33.2 million in insurance commissions, $30.8 million in journal revenue and $13.3 million in advertising.

Donald Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h)
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Diagnosis & Diagnostic Equip
Breathing Mechanics and Low-Tech Assessment: Clinical Pearls
Breathing Mechanics and Low-Tech Assessment

New technology often gives us powerful new improvements in health care. However, such impressive discoveries and inventions are only part of the story. Major innovations in health care can consist of new ways to use the natural gifts of our human senses, minds, and hands.

Charles Masarsky, DC, FICA
Billing / Fees / Insurance
Guidelines vs. Care: Bridging the Gap
Guidelines vs. Care: Bridging the Gap
Navigating Outside the Reimbursement Grid: A Practical Framework for Success

What happens when best practices for patient care fall outside what guidelines endorse or insurance will cover? More importantly, how can clinicians ethically and effectively integrate non-reimbursed services that improve function, reduce disability and support long-term outcomes? These are not just clinical questions; they are economic and policy challenges that directly affect practice viability and patient access.

Christopher Proulx, DC, PhD(ABD), CSCS
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Whiplash / Neck Pain
Class 4 Laser Therapy for Whiplash Injury: A Case Study
Class 4 Laser Therapy for Whiplash Injury: A Case Study

Whiplash injury is a common consequence of vehicular accidents and can lead to debilitating pain and reduced quality of life. Photobiomodulation with a class 4 therapeutic laser is a promising modality for managing whiplash-associated pain and promoting tissue healing. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of class 4 laser therapy in the treatment of whiplash injury through a comprehensive analysis of a patient’s experience.

Phil Harrington, DC, CMLSO, FASLMS
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SMS Marketing for Your Practice
SMS Marketing for Your Practice

Do you receive text messages from companies letting you know about offers or giveaways, or simply sharing news? If your answer is yes, then you have opted in for SMS (short message service) text-message marketing. SMS text-message marketing uses various platforms and software to send personalized, timely and sometimes interactive messages.

Antonio Arias
Carpal Tunnel / Extremities / Neuropathy
Unlock Relief: Nerve Flossing for CTS
Unlock Relief: Nerve Flossing for CTS

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.

Charles Annunziata, DC, CFMP