As chiropractors, we have always acknowledged our connection to a universal intelligence. We believe our link to universal intelligence affects each aspect of our lives and is the essence that allows us to maintain a dynamic balance. It is the existence of this "energy," coupled with chiropractic principles, that allows our method of healing (the adjustment) to work. In this belief, we are aligned with all other alternative and complementary systems that acknowledge the presence of a "vital force."
Are you aware that 80 percent of the world's population1 believes as we do in the existence of a universal intelligence? Other cultures and systems refer to it as ki, qui, prana, mana, vital energy, natural law and divine mind. This same 80 percent of the world's population depends on these so-called "alternative approaches" for their primary health care.
America is a country of immigrants. Many of these immigrants are now our senior citizens. They have brought with them health beliefs and behaviors from various traditional systems of healing. While the degree of their American acculturation varies considerably, these older adults have not divorced themselves from beliefs learned earlier. They have merely incorporated biomedicine into their beliefs about health and healing.
Aging studies concur that musculoskeletal symptoms dominate the complaints of America's middle-aged and older adults for both men and women.2 We have all seen the benefits chiropractic care affords the patient with musculoskeletal complaints. Function is regained and health maintained; in short, lives are changed!
The traditional medical approach of prescribing pharmaceuticals continues to be highly scrutinized, with numerous reports of inappropriate prescriptions leading to adverse drug reactions and overmedicated patients.3 It was the success of the miracle drugs for treatment of acute infections that propelled biomedicine to its pinnacle. Ironically, it is the failure of pharmaceuticals to address chronic conditions that has knocked it from its pedestal. Yet, the medical profession is not standing still. They are acknowledging with each new research report that other avenues of approach to health are desirable and warranted.
At present, a massive paradigm shift on the American health care scene is working away from reductionist biomedical principles and heading right towards alternative care. Why? There are several reasons for this shift. A massive aging population is living longer with multiple chronic conditions; health care costs have skyrocketed; there has been an increasing number of pharmaceutical "misadventures" prompting individuals to seek other alternatives; and lastly, there is a massive consumer movement towards reclaiming power and control over one's personal health.
The result? The pendulum has paused and is now gaining momentum the other way. Researchers tout the benefits of combining a healthy diet and exercise to reverse the effects of heart disease4 and to prevent 30%-40% of all cancers.5 An estimated 60 million Americans are turning to herbal remedies and supplements6 well researched and commonly used in Europe, but not as well known in America.7 Professional journals are publishing reports on the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies,8 and mainstream scientists tout the benefits of meditation,9 acupuncture10 and other forms of alternative healing. Andrew Weil, MD, from the University of Arizona's College of Medicine in Tucson, has founded a new program in "integrative medicine" to train future doctors in a philosophy that merges the best that alternative therapies and conventional medicine have to offer.11 The Hayflick theory has been revised. Human cells don't stop at 70 replications as was previously thought; they can go on indefinitely.12
It really is much easier to ride the horse in the direction it is going! We are there. The power of the adjustment is formidable indeed, and so is the power of a doctor-teacher who educates his patients-students over the course of their lives. Let us be aware of the tremendous interest our patients have in learning about all the options available to them for the maintenance of their health. Give them something new to read or think about on each visit. Now, more than ever, we must keep abreast of new findings. We and our patients have much to gain!
References
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?
