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."
The proposed merger of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards was approved by NBCE delegates and FCLB members at their respective annual meetings, held jointly in Atlanta, Ga., this year. Per the new bylaws, the new entity takes the NBCE name, with FCLB continuing as a department within NBCE. The federation will continue to enjoy Board of Directors representation on what will be a single, expanded board.
Before introducing subscapularis syndrome as an upper extremity analog, it is essential to revisit piriformis syndrome as a well-established example of myogenic pseudo-radiculopathy. Piriformis syndrome has long served as a clinical exception to disc-centric models of lower extremity pain and provides an important framework for understanding how deep muscular dysfunction can mimic radiculopathy in the absence of nerve root compression.
Pain has become the dominant language of musculoskeletal healthcare. Numeric pain-rating scales and symptom reports are routinely used as primary indicators of clinical success. But while pain reduction is meaningful, it is an incomplete and often misleading representation of recovery. This has real consequences for patient adherence, long-term outcomes, and how conservative care is perceived within the broader healthcare system.
