Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher
In 1963, an invisible enemy attempted to "contain and eliminate" the chiropractic profession. Unbeknownst to us for more than 10 years, the AMA's Committee on Quackery used its considerable resources, influence and power to isolate our profession, prohibiting medical doctors and hospitals from having anything to do with chiropractors. The committee's influence had a dramatic impact on our ability to be fairly reimbursed, the effects of which are still being felt today.
In 1976, a handful of DCs challenged the AMA (along with several other medical organizations) in a court battle that lasted 17 years. When the dust settled, Judge Susan Getzendanner ruled that the AMA had engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to wipe out the competing chiropractic profession. She also noted that the "AMA had entered into a long history of illegal behavior" in doing so.
(This is one of the most exciting, pivotal times in our history. Much of the story has never been told. Be watching for a complete history of the AMA battle by someone who observed it from a ringside seat. It is a book that should be in the reception area of every chiropractic office.)
At that time, our profession's effort to demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic care was hampered by a lack of research. Most of the evidence we produced was anecdotal. This didn't help our attorneys win the day. Fortunately, we prevailed without it.
The New "Silent Enemy": Ourselves
More than 30 years later, we have numerous studies on the positive impact of the chiropractic adjustment for various spinal ailments. Most of this research references "spinal manipulation." But in the midst of these efforts, another silent enemy is working against the chiropractic profession. This enemy is again exposing our lack of research in order to replace doctors of chiropractic with technicians.
The enemy is our own naivete and false sense of security. We assume that by demonstrating the effectiveness of the spinal manipulation to relieve pain, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of chiropractic to establish and maintain wellness. Thus far, we have shown that the adjustment (modality) is effective for various areas of spinal dysfunction. But we have failed to demonstrate, through research, that consistent chiropractic care has an impact of our patients' health beyond mechanical improvements.
What We Risk Becoming
Without this evidence, we risk being relegated to one of several professions (and perhaps even mechanical devices) that deliver spinal manipulation. It is not unthinkable that CVS could offer a "spine care" monthly service with a machine that manipulates every spinal segment in flexion, distraction, lateral bending and rotation in less than seven minutes.
As a living case study of the effectiveness of consistent chiropractic care, I can testify firsthand to what a difference it has made in my life. Adjusted at birth and consistently since, I have enjoyed a level of health and fitness that is the envy of many. With the exception of my time in the Navy, I can probably count the number of times I have seen an MD in the past 64 years on both hands ... with fingers left to spare.
No one argues that a lifetime of eating right and exercising makes you healthier than years of drinking beer while watching TV on the couch. But the average consumer, not to mention policy-makers and third-party payers, are not likely to accept that consistent chiropractic care has a similar effect without some serious evidence. The goal should be to demonstrate that long-term chiropractic care has a measurable positive impact on health with a resultant reduction in utilization that includes fewer drugs, surgeries and lost workdays.
It is time to look beyond back pain to wellness. To demonstrate this benefit, we will need to dedicate significant resources over several decades. While you recognize the impact of regular chiropractic care on the families you care for, the world demands evidence. We must not naively assume that just because we see it in our practices, others will recognize it as true.
Two Important Questions to Ponder
As we begin celebrating chiropractic's 125th anniversary, we need to think seriously about our future. Let's ask ourselves these two questions:
- Do we have the willingness and discipline to take chiropractic to the next level in the eyes of the public?
- What happens if we ignore the "invisible enemy," allowing the chiropractic adjustment to be relegated to a simple modality?
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/ wrblog. You can also visit me on Facebook and Twitter (donpetersenjr, @donaldpetersen).
