Report from Susan King, DC, DHSM, MBS, principal lecturer and course leader for the new chiropractic program at the University of Glamorgan.
PONTYPRIDD, Wales -- The chiropractic profession enjoys independent practising status in the United Kingdom, having experienced many exciting developments: the passage of government legislation via the Chiropractors Act in 1994, and the naming of the General Chiropractic Council in 1997. A great deal of interest in the education of chiropractors was initiated as a result of the curriculum advice embedded in the various reports commissioned prior to the construction of the parliamentary legislation.
The University of Glamorgan commenced early discussions with the chiropractic and other health professions, receiving valuable advice from the British Chiropractic Association regarding the feasibility of university-based undergraduate chiropractic education.
Following extensive investigation of international chiropractic educational requirements it was considered that this university was well placed to offer a chiropractic degree through the school of applied sciences; suitable funding arrangements were made. These arrangements place the chiropractic degree within the same framework as all university undergraduate degrees in the UK, thereby extending state grants and subsidies to the chiropractic students for the first time in this country.
The degree is a full-time, four-year undergraduate programme; clinical practice is firmly embedded, leading to an honours degree in chiropractic, followed by a one-year clinical attachment leading to the university employment diploma. This five-year programme will be followed by postgraduate clinical training, determined by the general chiropractic council for those who wish to become members of the register as required by the new legislation.
The University of Glamorgan structures courses around "modules." Several of the modules required during the first two years of the chiropractic degree are shared with students from other degree programmes. The remainder of our modules are specialised, clinical, discrete chiropractic study. Our students benefit from input and communication with other health professionals: our own school of nursing and midwifery, and from the clinicians at the local hospital authority. The chiropractic faculty is being developed with a mix of full-time members supported by part-time members active in the chiropractic practice and professional association activities.
With validation of the degree and the commencement of academic studies underway, our immediate task is the establishment of the out-patient clinic. Agreement between the chiropractic professional advisors and the university authorities determined that the clinic should be available for patients early in 1999. We have had several meetings with our architects who have prepared plans for a new building adjacent to the university and readily accessible by public and private transport.
Our initial cohort of 45 students commenced their studies in September 1997. The students are drawn from many national backgrounds, with the majority from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland together with the Republic of Ireland. Already our programme has attracted a great deal of interest and applications are steadily arriving for our next intake of students due to commence in September 1998. These applications include several from outside Europe, even though we have not yet established full communication with the international chiropractic community. It is envisaged that our maximum intake will be 72 students each year. The initial enthusiasm for the course from the profession and the public would appear to support that goal.
As you can understand, we are very excited about this wonderful opportunity of placing chiropractic education firmly within the established university framework in Europe.
Susan King, DC, DHSM, MBS
Principle lecturer and course leader
Chiropractic Studies
Glamorgan University, Wales, UK
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?
