An Ounce of Prevention, a Pound of Positive Press for Chiropractic
Editorial Staff
Prevention magazine wasn't always in the chiropractic profession's good graces (search our online archives for evidence to that effect), but by the time the 21st century dawned, things were beginning to turn around. One of the earliest, most compelling examples: "Fast Back Pain Relief – Avoid Drugs and Surgery: Call a Chiropractor," published in Prevention's June 2003 issue.
Considering the magazine's publisher, Rodale, Inc., lists Prevention's current U.S. readership at 8.6 million and its digital presence at nearly 5.5 million unique monthly visitors, suffice to say a positive portrayal of chiropractic represents free PR on an unprecedented scale.
The latest examples: not one, but two pro-chiropractic articles published in November 2015 and February 2016: "6 Things Chiropractors Can Help With – and What They Can't" and "7 Things Your Chiropractor Knows About You the Minute You Walk in the Room," respectively.
In the November article, author Judy Koutsky begins with a statement that's been paraphrased in chiropractic offices and press releases for years (although it's great to hear it repeated by a lay magazine): "Most people assume that chiropractors are good only for neck and back pain. And while they do treat a lot of that, there's plenty else they can do." What else? As explored in the article: pregnancy pain, digestive issues, headaches and blood pressure.
Low back and neck pain round out the list, and the article quotes chiropractors Drs. Gregory Fox (president of the Maine Chiropractic Association), Gabrielle Francis (a DC in NYC)and Sunil Pullukat (a Chicago chiropractor).
So, what can't chiropractors do, according to the article? States Dr. Francis: "Medical doctors are better at treating acute emergencies, infections, chronic diseases, fractures, injuries that require surgeries, tumors, and broken bones," And Dr. Pullukat adds: "Anything outside of [the musculoskeletal] realm is better left for medical doctors."
In "7 Things Your Chiropractor Knows About You the Minute You Walk in the Room," Amanda Kelly explores the importance of posture and what it can reveal to the astute DC:
You're addicted to your phone.
You're a writer.
You have stomach issues.
You sleep on your stomach.
You're out of breath.
You lug your laptop around all day.
You're feeling down.
This article also relies on doctors of chiropractic for insights: NYC chiropractor Dr. Karen Erickson and Georgia DC Dr. Robert Hayden, who get ample discussion time in explaining the link between poor posture and the above-mentioned health revelations.
Whether you agree entirely with the tone of either article or the points made – or trust an anti-chiropractic article won't ever find its way onto the pages of Prevention – it's encouraging to see content with such wide consumer exposure that a) touts the benefits of chiropractic; b) utilizes chiropractors as information sources, without the standard "MD rebuttal" quotes; and c) doesn't include the "chiropractic neck adjustments can cause stroke" element we've seen thrust upon the public too many times by various media sources.
Perhaps paralleling the evolving health care industry, the magazine seems eager to advance chiropractic and other forms of alternative care as its namesake – prevention – takes center stage as the preferred model of health promotion.
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