Chiropractic Colleges in Crisis
Education & Seminars

Chiropractic Colleges in Crisis

Are Life West, Life University Challenges Signs of a Broader Problem?

Financial pressure, enrollment declines and institutional challenges are emerging at several U.S. chiropractic colleges. Life Chiropractic College West's and Life University's struggles may be the most talked about but appear to be part of a larger story. And with recent USDE requirements threatening to hamstring federal student financing for DC degree programs, chiropractic education is facing questions for which it has no immediate answers.

Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
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Healthcare / Public Health  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
We Are Not Therapists: Clinical Excellence Is Redefining Chiropractic’s Role in Modern Healthcare
We Are Not Therapists: Clinical Excellence Is Redefining Chiropractic’s Role in Modern Healthcare

Chiropractic has historically faced challenges in how it is perceived within the broader healthcare system. Too often, we have been viewed as technicians or therapists rather than providers capable of managing complex spine-related conditions. One of the most important factors contributing to this is the level at which we choose to practice. When we elevate our clinical standards, when we deepen our understanding, and when we commit to evidence-based, demonstrable care, the perception begins to shift.

Shane Davidson, DC, FPSC
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Chronic / Acute Conditions
Treating Fascia, Relieving Severe Musculoskeletal Problems
Treating Fascia, Relieving Severe Musculoskeletal Problems

Fascia is a collagen‑ and elastin‑rich tissue that combines tensile strength with elasticity and possesses its own contractile behavior. When muscle activity begins, mechanoreceptors such as muscle spindles relay rapid feedback to the central nervous system, and this requires fascia with healthy viscosity so that spindle cells, Pacini, and Ruffini receptors can deform and glide normally.

Jeffrey Tucker, DC, DACRB
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Diagnosis & Diagnostic Equip
When Radiculopathy Isn’t Radiculopathy: A Clinical Series (Pt. 4)
Supscapularis Syndrome
Supscapularis Syndrome: The Upper-Extremity Analog to Piriformis Syndrome

Subscapularis syndrome is introduced here as a clinically relevant and underrecognized source of upper-extremity pseudo-radiculopathy. Similar to piriformis syndrome, it reflects a functional disorder in which deep stabilizing muscle dysfunction – rather than primary nerve-root compression – drives symptoms that mimic radiculopathy.

Ken Kaufman, DC
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Featured

The Missing Link in Midlife Female Musculoskeletal Pain

A Systems-Based, Non-Hormonal Perspective

Musculoskeletal pain in perimenopause and menopause reflects a broader physiologic shift rather than an isolated structural problem. Declining estrogen, increased inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation collectively alter tissue quality, pain perception, and recovery capacity. Recognizing this interconnected model enables clinicians to move beyond symptom management and toward more effective, systems-based care that improves long-term outcomes for midlife women.

Sheila Payton, DC, MS
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Reader Favorites
Your Practice / Business  |  DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Branding: Is It Necessary for Your Chiropractic Practice?
Branding: Is It Necessary for Your Chiropractic Practice?

Branding is crucial for attracting new patients as a chiropractor because it establishes a strong and memorable identity that builds trust and resonates with potential patients. According to a study by Nielsen, 59% of consumers prefer to buy products and services from familiar brands they trust.

Carolyn KreuzKamp, BS, MBA
Chronic / Acute Conditions
An Unrecognized Cause of Toe Pain
An Unrecognized Cause of Toe Pain
Flexor Hallucis Longus Entrapment: Diagnosis, Correction

While excessive pronation is almost always blamed for the development of functional hallux limitus, a frequently overlooked cause of this condition occurs when the flexor hallucis longus tendon gets trapped in the retrotalar pulley located behind the medial malleolus. This condition is particularly common in classical ballet dancers, gymnasts, figure skaters, and soccer players.

Thomas Michaud, DC
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Headaches & Migraines
Theater Headaches: A Surprising Cause
Theater Headaches: A Surprising Cause

As you know, chiropractic physicians are trained to evaluate and manage patients with cervicogenic headaches. Yet we may become overconfident with our diagnosis and misdiagnose the condition if we are not inquisitive during our initial patient interview. This putative case report should be most interesting to our chiropractic specialists, especially those who have earned a DABCI.

James Lehman, DC, DIANM
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Your Practice / Business
Patient Safety: Facing the Facts
Patient Safety: Facing the Facts

Clinical errors are a significant challenge, and nearly every person will experience a diagnostic error in their lifetime. As health care providers, we take an oath to “first do no harm” to our patients. And since it is never our intention to do harm to our patients, it is time the health care industry in general faced the facts of how our actions or inactions are putting our patients in harm’s way.

Scott Munsterman, DC, FICC, CPCO
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