Good Work Dr. Elder
Dear Editor:
Every chance I get I read your Faculty Viewpoints section written by Dr. Terry Elder with great enthusiasm. His latest column titled "BJ Said" was of interest to me because of the negative response Dr. Elder noted over his columns.
I very much agree with the principles of the MPI which use joint dysfunction instead of bone-out-of-place when describing the mechanics of chiropractic. At least once a day I am explaining to patients that their spines are not out-of-place, but rather that their spinal joints have undergone some traumatic insult which is causing their joint dysfunction.
In the past it was easy to explain the mechanics of chiropractic in terms of subluxation and bone-out-of-place, but today with the tremendous amount of research being done to validate chiropractic, and the extensive media coverage our profession is receiving, we must not change our philosophy, but rather change the way in which we describe it. Only then can we receive the interdisciplinary respect that has eluded us for so long.
Keep up the good work and continue to write articles that show that chiropractic has made it into the 20th century.
Arthur J. Keenan, DC
Sierra Madre, California
Dear Editor:
Elder's article, October 8, 1993, leaves me wondering if this young man has much of a grip on history. He makes mention that those who look to the green books for "all the answers ..." should include those authors who have written in this century.
What century are we in, sir? As I quickly scan my library of green books, the first one in line is dated 1906. Then it's 1910. Unless the principle and the concept of what makes up a century has changed, I believe it's still a hundred years and begins with the 00 year, as in 1900.
One point about the motion palpation concern has always amazed me. It's how people somehow think motion palpation is the latest movement within the profession. I know for a fact that the motion palpation people were quarreling with the Palmers more than 50 years ago. Yet, somehow motion palpaters attempt to lay claim to being among the new kids on the block. Perhaps they have discovered the fountain of youth?
As for your references in the article, October 8, 1993, I would be most interested in knowing which of those authorities are chiropractors, if any.
William E. Tickel, DC
Oswego, Illinois
P.S. Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "What lies within our past or within our future are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
Dear Editor:
Each issue of Dynamic Chiropractic brings a variety of interesting articles and news of the profession plus a lesson in history from Dr. Barge. His is the voice of the past, the echo of the 19th century. If, as a profession, we were to hold the beliefs of Dr. Barge, we would be deserving of every criticism leveled against us. I confess that I read his writings in DC but I do so out of a sense of what archaic thinking will he espouse in other issues.
Racing full speed into the past, he criticized Dr. Winterstein for advocating better education and higher standards for admission to chiropractic colleges. Heavens no, we wouldn't want to have highly educated practitioners with solid academic backgrounds because that would be "kowtowing to the medical profession and so-called educated community." Presumably in Dr. Barge's view, education is the enemy of our profession; all you really need to know is which bone is out of place and how adjust it and you can cure all the ills of the world.
In his latest missive (10/8/93 issue of "DC"), Dr. Barge attacks the South African chiropractic academic community because they do not teach the "original Palmer theory." He then asks what philosophy they teach and queries condescendingly if they subscribe to allopathic philosophy or the germ theory? Since Dr. Barge has not yet entered the 20th century we must excuse him for not knowing that allopathy is not a philosophy and the germ theory is not a theory. C. botulinum causes botulism and not a subluxated vertebra. As for his use of the term allopathy to mean medicine as we commonly understand it, he is again wrong since the term describes a system of treatment which employs substances to produce effects in the body opposite to those of the disease it is treating or a system of treatment opposite to homeopathy.
Chiropractic is undoubtedly the best and most cost effective approach to the treatment of a variety of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Surgery and medicine have a role to play as well. In fact, medicine has a larger role to play in health care than either surgery or chiropractic which nonetheless have their roles. The problem with medicine vis-a-vis chiropractic is not the medical practitioner but rather organized medicine. The problem with chiropractic is not organized chiropractic but practitioners like Dr. Barge who still deal in medical conspiracies, philosophies, innate, and bones out of place.
M. Shavel, DC
Morristown, New Jersey
The Association for Chiropractic Advancement (AFCA) had its genesis as a small mom and pop political group advocating the optional inclusion of prescription pharmaceuticals within the chiropractic scope. However, in 1992, we were given a substantial boost with the election of "President Hillary" as the head of the upcoming national health car system.
As of this writing DCs are considered primary care providers. Under national health care it appears this all-important proviso will be effectively lost. Chances are increasing as time goes on that chiropractic will be relegated to that of technician status, possibly under the auspices of an MD or DO. One has only to look at the recent debate over the commissioning of DCs in the military to get a sense of the big picture. The major objection against actual DC implementation likes in chiropractic's limited scope and lack of training to fulfill the mission of a military physician, i.e., the skills associated with prescription pharmaceuticals and minor surgery. Sound familiar? It should, this is the same problems that faces the civilian section. The lack of general care providers is at an all time high. They are attempting to fill this void, not with chiropractors, but with the inclusion of nurses, physical therapists, and physician assistants. In a recent meeting, one congressional representative was quoted as saying, "We have nothing against chiropractors but we view them as a luxury item that we cannot afford."
Make no mistake, national health care is right around the corner and all the philosophy and political double talk in the world is not going to change the reality of national health care. If chiropractic is to maintain its primary care status we must change with the times, which means placing philosophic dogma on the back burner and upgrading our skills and services to meet public and governmental demands. Without implementing sound common sense solutions to these issues the road ahead will certainly be most difficult and uncertain.
Although my letter may appear to carry a message of gloom and doom, it is actually one of real hope and opportunity. This window of change can propel chiropractic into the 21st century as a major player in the health delivery system. It is the actions or inactions of today's practitioner that will determine our fate. I can only urge to take time and participate, you may even find it enjoyable.
Gregory A. Baldt, DC
Association for Chiropractic Advancement (AFCA)
P.O. Box 10097
Glendale, Arizona 85318-0097
Phone (602) 938-6199
Fax (602) 938-6204
Dear Editor:
Thank you for keeping me abreast of chiropractic issues around the world.
Regarding the recent situation in California, I didn't realize chiropractors were treating infectious and communicable diseases. In my office I treat vertebral subluxation.
Get the Big Idea -- all else will follow.
Henri Rosenblum, DC
New York, New York
DC
Dear Editor:
Along with your negative letters regarding our work with muscular distrophy children, we have had tremendous direct responses from very open chiropractors praising our efforts.
Enclosed is a Spine-Meningeal Systems Radiographic Progress Evaluation for a nine-year-old muscular dystrophy patient who has been under spinal care since 8/12/92. This RPE was dated 9/2/93, and exhibits 31 areas of structural-meningeal progress out of 40. His structural system is releasing the old degenerative spinal patterns and reorganizing the system toward a recovery pattern.
Along with the spine-meningeal system progress, this child has made remarkable improvement in both upper and lower body strength. He has now resumed normal activities and play. We still have a ways to go with him before we attain a stable recovery, but we feel he is well on his way.
Incidentally, we now have 62 Becker's & Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cases under care and case management. In addition, we are working with several other degenerative cases of ataxia, cerebral palsy, ALS, etc., with the same process as MD.
I hope you will publish my letter and the RPE. The RPE certainly provides my infamous detractors with the challenge to document their chiropractic responses -- even on their simples cases. Also, I too would never tackle such cases if I did not know structural systems, how to work with them, how to monitor their release and recovery process and when we have attained our goal. Most of these advantages are not provided by the usual and customary chiropractic approaches. Therefore, we are judged not from what we are doing, how we are doing it, and what documented results we are hereby achieving -- but we are usually judged from the inadequate places each of our critics come from. Perhaps their criticism reflects well their faith in their own type of work rather than ours. Note: I did not challenge them "to put up or shut up" as is so tempting to do.
God bless them anyway.
Lowell E. Ward, DC
Long Beach, California
Standing Normal Stress XR#21578 XR# Evaluations Tolerance 05/06/93 09/02/93 STATUS PROCESS COMPLICATIONS C D Cervical Spine 0 .1-1.3 P A 7.4 A 4.0 B 4 Progress Total Net SF 0 .1-1.2 P B 11.1 B 7.3 B 4 Progress Occipital Angle 0o 50% TNSF 20o 21o B 3 Progress Atlas Angle 0o 50% TNSF 11o 23o B 3 Progress C-A/P Curve Visual NL N. Lordos A HL- A NL NT Progress Cerv L/R Lat Curve 0 .1-3 SRS L 0.3 R 1.6 D 3 Progress T-1 Angle 25o =24o 29o 29o B 2 No Change Thoracic Apex A/P Curve .1 <=1 NSPL P 1.8 P 0.3 B 6 BD Release T - Apex Level 6/7 T6 L3 L5 B 6 BD Release T - 12 Angle 25o <27o -14o 2o B 3 Progress T #1 L/R Lat Curve 0 <=.3 SRS L 0.6 R 1.6 D 3 Progress T #2 L/R Lat Curve 0 <=.3 SRS S 0.0 R 1.8 D 3 Progress Actual SML:TNSF HE .5T 50% TNSF 3.8 2.3 B 5 Progress SML: HE OR COMP 0 HE < 2.0 C 3.8 C 2.3 B 5 Progress SML: HE+ OR FC 0 HE+ <1.0 F 9.3 F 5.9 B 6 Progress L3 A/P Curve 0 <.6 Ant. P 1.8 A 0.3 NT Progress L #1 L/R Lat Curve 0 <=.3 SRS L 0.6 R 0.8 D 2 Progress L #2 L/R Lat Curve 0 <=3 SRS S 0.0 S 0.0 N/A Sacral Angle 50o <53o 18o 37o B 3 Progress Pelvic Drop 0 <=.3 SRS L 0.8 L 0.3 B 3 Progress Pelvic Rotation 0 <=.3 SRS R 0.9 R 0.4 D 2 Progress Pelvic Torsion 0 <=.3 SRS R 1.4 R 0.5 D 2 Progress Process Graph 0 <= 1.0 4.30 3.33
Process Graph 0 <= 1.0 3.70 3.00 Status: N=Normal, NT=Normal Tolerance, D=Defense, B=Breakdown Complications: NC=No Change, NCSS=No Change Standing Sitting, AE=Acute Exacerbation, EX=Exhaustion, NCD=No Change in Degenerative Stress Intensity, NI=New Injury, OC=Out of Control Degenerative Stress Category 6, CT=Continuing Trauma SBS=Stress Breakdown Side SRS=Stress Resistant Side Aligned according to gender: MALE SBS=Left SRS=Right FEMALE SBS=Right SRS=LeftDC
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?
