Here's an idea. Follow the 300 million or so Buddhists down the eightfold path and let Buddha build your practice!
p>What in the world is this article talking about? First, be assured that this is not an attempt to convert fellow members of the chiropractic profession to Buddhism
i>en masse.
/i> However, by looking at the eightfold path (part of the Buddhist quest for spiritual advancement), we may be able to gather many helpful hints to build, grow and maintain a successful, principled practice of which we can be proud. Here are the steps of the eightfold path and how they may be applied to improving our practices.
p>
b>Right Knowledge
/b> - Understand chiropractic. Don't fool yourself into believing that a 4.0 GPA correlates with understanding. Take the time out of your busy day to truly learn the field. Go to seminars that not only interest you, but those that challenge your understanding of the subluxation, neurology, and your current model of chiropractic. Take the title
i>doctor
/i> seriously and literally. Doctor means "teacher." Without knowledge, you cannot teach your patients anything about health and their body. Without this, we are simply spinal technicians moving bones around hoping it works and trusting that our patients somehow understand what we are doing.
p>
b>Right Thinking
/b> - Decide to set your life and practice on the correct path. It is never too late to imagine your dream practice and take the steps to build it. Take the appropriate steps to use your knowledge toward building your dream - one step at a time. Plan these steps. Small hint: Don't trust your memory to just think about them, though - take action!
p>
b>Right Speech
/b> - Take the time to explain things to your patients. Study after study indicates that this is one of the most attractive features of chiropractic in the eyes of our patients. Tell them the benefits of chiropractic, and in terms they can understand. Take the chiropractic story everywhere you can. Let it be heard.
p>
b>Right Conduct
/b> - Practice members are looking for mentors to coach them toward better health. Being appropriate role models attracts business. Start living a healthy lifestyle to influence those around you - your patients, family, friends, and future chiropractic practice members.
p>
b>Right Livelihood
/b> - As chiropractors, we are fortunate to have chosen a vocation that allows us to help others. That's a noble calling. Let's keep it that way by not falling into the trap of personal injury shenanigans, insurance scams, and dubious billing procedures.
p>
b>Right Effort
/b> - Work, work, work toward all worthy goals and never lose sight of the finish line. Ask the biggest chiropractors in practice today and they will tell you that being a truly successful chiropractor involves being a successful person. And that requires lots of work on yourself and your craft.
p>
b>Right Mindfulness
/b> - Become intensely aware of the states of your body, feelings, and mind. Those who have healed and helped themselves have more ability to use their energy to help others.
p>
b>Right Concentration
/b> - Any improvement in any endeavor requires focus and discipline. Meditate on the chiropractic philosophy and principles and the values you hold important in your personal life. Focus on bringing all these aspects together into one impressive package.
p>I hope these time-tested ideas can inspire you to get in motion and build not only your practice, but your personal life as well. Enjoy the journey!
p>
I>
i>Tom Necela
br>Student
br>Life Chiropractic College West
/i>
/I>
p>
img src="http://www.chiroweb.com/images/archives/dc_dingbat.gif"
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.
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.
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.
