The National Association of Chiropractic Medicine (NACM) apparently no longer exists. Responding to an inquiry regarding the organization's status from another chiropractor, a March 6, 2010 e-mail sent by NACM's national executive director, Ronald Slaughter, DC, said it all: "All good things come to an end. We tried. We failed. Chiropractic is a 'failed' profession."
Since its inception back in 1984, the NACM operated as a tiny fringe organization, but one that at least for a little while was the proverbial pain in chiropractic's side. Throughout its history, the NACM attempted to impact the way that chiropractors practiced as well as what they believed. Their most ambitious effort was an attempt to create a new profession of "orthopractic" under the Medical Practices Act in 1994.1-3 And while the newly formed orthopractic group was vocal in its stance denouncing chiropractic pediatrics,4-5 their existence was short lived. The "orthopractic" movement essentially failed in less than a year due to the inability of practitioners to be licensed as "orthopractors."6-7
The NACM's activities, certainly in terms of their relevance to the profession, subsided substantially following the orthopractic debacle. In fact, there is little evidence that the organization did anything that impacted the chiropractic profession over the past decade and a half, and according to an online referral directory, the group was estimated to have fewer than 100 members.
As of press time, the NACM Web site (www.chiromed.org) is no longer accessible. Exactly how long the site has been down is anyone's guess. The last recorded existence of the site is May 30, 2008. Like the National Association of Chiropractic Medicine, it too has disappeared with little notice.
Dynamic Chiropractic reported on NACM activities, particularly with regard to the orthopractic issue, on numerous occasions. The articles referenced below provide some insight for chiropractors young and old who would like to learn more about the NACM's efforts to impact the profession.
References
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?
