Look around your office at the various goods you use every day. You probably don't think about it much, but many of them were designed specifically for your practice. The chiropractic adjusting table you use today is a far cry from what was utilized in the early days of our profession. Many of the diagnostic/assessment devices you utilize were still on the drawing board just a few years ago. The pillows, orthotics, topical analgesics and nutritional products our patients enjoy are the result of millions of dollars of research and development.
Our profession has grown from the days when we were shunned by other health care providers. Today, we are taking our rightful place on the health care team. Part of this growth was facilitated by the equipment we use, the techniques we've developed, and the ancillary products and services we provide our patients.
In many cases, the companies that developed and manufactured our chiropractic products were founded and run by doctors of chiropractic looking for something more than the medical model had produced. They were not content with what was available, so they invested money from their practice to create a nutritional product, software program or posture device to address a specific need their patients presented. Other companies were developed by other health care providers or founded on wellness principles that fit nicely into chiropractic practice. In some cases (such as my own), the company was founded by a DC and handed down to their children.
As the chiropractic convention season begins, you likely will see various vendors at your state and national chiropractic conventions. You will recognize some as having supported this profession for many years. Together, these companies contribute literally millions of dollars each year to our chiropractic colleges and associations. They donate to research, buy booth space and support various efforts by this profession to expand and grow (including the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress advertising campaign).
Money from chiropractic vendors makes a number of things possible in our profession. And while they are working to make their businesses successful, they also are working to make the chiropractic profession successful. In many ways, chiropractic vendors are invested in your future almost as much as you are:
This all enhances the care you provide. You are a better doctor and your patients are ultimately healthier because of these companies. So, as you pass by the various exhibit booths at the next convention you attend, consider the effort and investment each of these companies has made in our profession.
You may find their products/services are just what you're looking for, or you may not be interested at all. Either way, you should still take a moment to talk with them. Let them know how much you appreciate their support. Help them feel included as more than just a chiropractic vendor, but an actual part of the chiropractic profession.
They are there to help you be more successful. They are there to support you.
DMP Jr.
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?
