I was recently reviewing a deposition on a “Chiropractor” accused of causing a stroke while “manipulating” a patient’s cervical spine. They asked this doctor what a subluxation was. I read and reread his reply in amazement. This doctor was a graduate of one of the oldest Chiropractic Colleges in the world and he could not put together a coherent sentence as to what his profession professed to do, or what a subluxation was! Not only was this disappointing and embarrassing to the doctor, more importantly, to the profession. It is a warning.
Our profession is the portal of entry for millions of people looking for answers to health outside of mainstream medicine. It is our duty and moral obligation to educate the public what chiropractic does and does not do for them. D.D. Palmer and his son, B.J. founded and developed chiropractic. It is their definition that is and must be the standard. It is not the definition of any so called “Health-Sciences” Colleges. The definition of chiropractic must be answered and agreed upon by all who practice.
“The practice of Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.”
There it is; simple, truthful, exact and understandable. Structure equals function! Can and do you explain this to your patients, your staff, and the public? Or do you get tongue tied and confused? Memorize this very simple fact. We chiropractors work with structure that affects function of health. That is it. Notice, nowhere does the definition mention or imply “Pain.” The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health, it is not a pain relieving tool, it is not an adjunct therapy to medical care, or any other care. Be it physical therapy, vitamins and nutritional therapy, laser therapy or anything else! What you do is to affect structure which affects function, which affects health. Anymore than this is not chiropractic. Yes, it’s great that we educate on diet, exercise, stress and more, but these are the adjuncts.
Maybe this is the problem with our newly graduating chiropractors. The definition is too simple for them. They need a “complex” “multi-focused” “multi-therapy” definition of chiropractic to make themselves feel important, because nothing with this simple of a definition could be worth this much.
Listen to me young Jedi’s of chiropractic. Long before you and I were born, our forefathers of chiropractic saved millions from untold suffering and dis-ease. Long before you were a twinkle in your parent’s eyes, chiropractors practiced a simple skill and philosophy that, believe it or not, still works today without third party coverage or quadruple double blind research studies.
The principle is simple: Structure equals function. Correct the structure, affect the function. Do it correctly and you will witness miracle after miracle in your office. Do it sloppy, without correct “subluxation” case management and your patients will think you are a massage therapist!
So, here it is:
1. Get knowledge of the subluxation and its components.
2. Take a course of action to correct the subluxations you have found.
3. Monitor your subluxation correction results.
4. Report to the patient what is being done to improve their function (health).
5. Repeat 1 through 4.
6. Have fun in the knowledge that chiropractic is well and in good hands, yours!
Till next time…
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