As our jet touched down in the huge city of Bogota, Colombia,
South America, we were somewhat apprehensive. This was the first
time either Dr. Eric Jackson or myself had given chiropractic
adjustments behind bars. As far as we know, it was the first time
that chiropractors had been into the prisons there.
In November 1991, Prison Fellowship invited us, through the
Christian Chiropractors Association, to provide chiropractic
treatment for the inmates in three of Bogota's major prisons.
Upon entering each prison, the security guards checked everything:
our person, cameras, adjusting tables including the padding, even
our lunches. These were maximum security prisons for both men and
women.
As we interacted with the prisoners, there was such a positive
reception and good response, we had to keep reminding ourselves
that these people were in there for very serious crimes. We saw a
great deal of stress-related problems as a result of prison life.
There were the typical musculoskeletal syndromes, plus people with
decades of neck and back trouble due to intense manual labor.
Women who had back pain for years thinking it was from an organic
problem, soon discovered it to be of biomechanical origin. In all
three prisons we adjusted people with subluxated wrists, elbows,
and knees.
In the women's prison, which had less rigid security measures, we
treated the guards, the prisoners, and even the administrative
staff, all in the same room together. There were long line-ups
from the time we arrived until we left. Prisoners would be
laughing and joking with guards as they heard their joints crack,
and the ambiance grew from fun, to encouragement and hope.
On the second day, after seeing what we were doing, the chief
medical officer and several other doctors came in for adjustments
for mainly biomechanical problems of the spine. It was interesting
to note that they were suffering from tension similar to what we
find in practice in North America. Comparatively, the prisoners,
on the whole, seemed much more relaxed. All of the prison's
medical personnel came back on the last day, along with the
director and his assistant, for more treatments.
Another highlight of our trip occurred later that week when our
missionary host was asked if we would go to the Department of the
Ministry of Justice. Word had reached the justice minister of the
spirit of togetherness and sense of unity we had created at the
prison, and he wanted us to go and accomplish the same thing for
his staff.
Although our visit to the first prison was positive, a warm and
friendly reception, the inmates in the second two maximum security
prisons were far more difficult to relate to. They were sullen and
depressed. Many of their problems were trauma-related from knife
wounds and gun shots. It was in one of these prisons that we
adjusted a young man who had assassinated the minister of justice
five years previously.
We saw between 80 and 100 people per day from about 10:00 a.m.
until 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. Through the contacts made by our host, we
also treated people from the missionary community and Colombian
friends up until 10:30 some nights, with a total of approximately
150 treatments on those days.
During our two weeks in Colombia, we treated approximately 600
people. Sometimes we are asked, "What is the value of a short-term
mission like that? What can be accomplished in such a short time?"
We saw health changes take place at such a rapid rate, even we were
amazed. One missionary was having such pain in her shoulder that
her medical doctor was prepared to perform surgery. There was
nerve root compression and acute tendinitis in the rotary cuff.
Two adjustments later, Dr. Jackson said, "I saw a change that would
normally take six weeks at home." By the time we left, her
shoulder problem was completely cleared up. This chiropractic care
saved her from an unnecessary and expensive medical leave, and an
extensive rehabilitation and recovery period.
Another missionary with an acute C5, six-facet syndrome was unable
to lift her arm. She was greatly relieved after two adjustments.
Carlos, a former government chauffeur and bodyguard, had low back
pain for 10 years. He reports that after five adjustments he has
had no further trouble with his back.
We have found that when we go on a short-term mission trip, our
effectiveness goes beyond our fondest dreams. What a wonderful way
to spend a vacation!
Both Drs. John W. Hall and Eric Jackson practice in Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada and are members of the Christian Chiropractors of
Canada. Dr. Hall is a veteran missionary DC, having served in
Vietnam and at the head waters of the Amazon River in Ecuador,
South America.
Greg White, D.C.
Missions' Chairman
Christian Chiropractors Association
Inquiries may be directed to:
Christian Chiropractors of Canada
276 Plains Road
Burlington, Ontario L7T 2C6
Canada
(416) 634-9535
Christian Chiropractors Association
3200 S. Lemay
Ft. Collins, Colorado 80525
1-800-999-1970
Australian Christian Chiropractors Association
433 Buckley Street
Essendon, 3040
Australia, Victoria
(03) 337-9868
British Christian Chiropractors Society
133 Chorley Road
Walton Le Dale
Preston, PR5-4JR
England, UK
011-44-772-696-611
