Chiropractors lost a champion recently; a man whose life was marked by selfless dedication to the profession he loved. Dr. E.J. Nosser, a 1957 Palmer graduate, left us an inspiring legacy. In January 1975, Dr. Nosser and his Shreveport, La., colleague, Dr. B.D. Mooring, were the last chiropractors to be imprisoned in the United States for the practice of chiropractic. They were ordered to jail by a judge, even though six months earlier Louisiana had become the last state in the nation to license chiropractic. After several days, they were released following the outcry from patients and friends.
Dr. E.J. was joined in practice by his son Thomas in 1981. Dr. Thomas Nosser, the current president of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana, practiced with his dad until shortly before his passing.
Dr. E.J. Nosser with his son, fellow chiropractor Dr. Thomas Nosser.Dr. E.J. was one of the last two DCs imprisoned in the U.S. for practicing chiropractic.
Dr. E.J. was revered by Louisiana DCs who knew him, and was the recipient of many awards and honors. In recognition of 54 years of service to the community, the Honorable Mayor of Shreveport proclaimed May 24, 2007 "Dr. E.J. Nosser Day."
Dr. E.J. was a member of the state association for over 50 years and was named a Distinguished Fellow by the International Chiropractors Association. Many books and articles have been written about him. A Korean War veteran, he decided on his career after watching his father recover from chronic stomach ulcers under the care of a chiropractor.
For those who knew Dr. E.J., his living example of professionalism and his great kindness and humor will be sadly missed. Two quotes are appropriate when thinking of pioneers in the profession like Dr. E.J. Les Brown once wrote that "someone is sitting in the shade today because someone else planted a tree long ago." And to paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton, "If we have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
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?
Some pundits say that the upcoming presidential and congressional races, and many local races, might be the most consequential in our country’s history. We do not have the choice of sitting on the sidelines and hoping our patients will carry our water. Unlike other medical professions such as physical therapists, podiatrists, nurses, etc., the health care class (AMA) will not protect us. We must be in the game.
The most common condition affecting the shoulder is rotator-cuff disease. From acute tears to chronic tendinopathy, it’s common and needs a thorough workup. In fact, even asymptomatic shoulders can have full-thickness rotator-cuff rears in up to 40% of instances. Let’s look at additional conditions that can present to the office with weakness, loss of motion and pain in the shoulder beyond rotator-cuff tears.
