The U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee voted November 13, 1991 to approve a measure that would include authorization for the funding of $6.5 million in federal grants for chiropractic training and research. The vote (18, yea to 0, nay) was to approve reauthorization of Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. The full Senate passed the bill (S.2050) on November 26, 1991. This bill also includes favorable language to the continuation of the HEAL Student Loan Program. The Bush administration had sought to discontinue the HEAL program. (Please see "Key Committee Acts on HEAL Reauthorization" in the November 8, 1991 issue.)
The Chiropractic Training and Demonstration Project was an initiative developed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), and accomplished with the assistance and significant support of key members of the committee, including Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.); Strom Thurmond (R-SC); Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); Paul Simon (D-Ill.); Brock Adams (D-Wash.); Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.); and others, some who previously had not shown strong support for chiropractic legislation.
This historic event is the culmination of years of effort on the part of researchers, chiropractic colleges, and the ACA and the ICA (please see "Federal Research Funds Earmarked for Chiropractic" in the August 2, 1991 issue, "Dr. Arlan Fuhr Addresses U.S. House Subcommittee" in the June 21, 1991 issue and "The National Institute of Chiropractic Research Speaks to Congress" in the May 23, 1990 issue). According to Richard Miller, this initiative has "quietly been in the works for the better part of a year."
A cautionary note: The Chiropractic Training and Demonstration Project faces a long, difficult ascent to authorization. Even if the $6.5 million is authorized, it may not necessarily be appropriated.
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?
