The books and magazines published by Rodale Press in the past have taken a critical view of chiropractic. And so when the Alliance for Chiropractic Progress announced that Prevention magazine (published by Rodale Press) was chosen as one of three forums for their chiropractic PR campaign, some in the chiropractic profession questioned that choice.
But the Alliance's choice was based on the changing tide at Rodale Press that began in 1997. The most tangible evidence of that change was the selection of Anne Alexander as Prevention's new editor. Ms. Alexander is a young, energetic woman who brings a renewed sense of health to Prevention, the nation's largest health magazine. While not a chiropractic patient herself, she has a refreshing openness and a willingness to learn about all forms of "alternative" health care.
The reality, however, is that change takes time. The February 1998 issue of Prevention featured the article, "A Consumer's Guide to Alternative Medicine." The article was the work of a free-lance writer who lacked the resources necessary to present an accurate review of chiropractic. The section on chiropractic painted DCs as mechanists rather than doctors.
In the past, the chiropractic profession's consternation would have been evidenced by hundreds of angry letters and calls to the magazine or publisher, but without any satisfying resolution. But now, because the Alliance has a working relationship with Prevention, the communication lines are open.
After examining the article, and listening to the reaction of both the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), Rodale Press responded with this letter:
| Rodale Press Barbara Newton Vice President Publishing Director, Women's Health January 15, 1998 Dear Mr. Cuneo and Mr. Hendrickson: I'd like to take this opportunity to layout a plan of action PREVENTION Magazine will take to alleviate the problems caused by our February article on chiropractic. We pride ourselves in reporting accurate information to our readers and doing complete fact checks on our edit. This was not the case in our recent piece on chiropractic ... simply put, we erred. Therefore, we propose:
Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Barbara Newton |
Prevention, begun in 1950, is an excellent health magazine with a circulation of 3,250,000, and an estimated readership of 12 million. Rodale Press is the "how to, you can do it" magazine publisher. They also publish, among other magazines: Organic Gardening; Bicycling; Runner's World; Men's Health; Scuba Diving; Mountain Bike; American Woodworker; Backpacker; heart & soul; and Fitness Swimmer.
Despite the February gaff in Prevention, many in chiropractic feel that Rodale and chiropractic are a natural partnership that should have come together long ago.
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?
