Wessely Joins CP’s Editorial Advisory Board Chiropractic Products welcomes Michelle A. Wessely, DC, BSc, DACBR, a chiropractor and chiropractic radiologist at the Institut Franco-Europeen de Chiropratique, Paris. As part of CP, Wessely will contribute articles, technical expertise and advice, and provide editorial direction to the magazine. A 1996 graduate of Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Wessely currently serves as head of academic and clinical radiology and is director of clinical research at Institut Franco–Europeen de Chiropratique. Wessely, the winner of the American College of Chiropractic Radiology (ACCR) radiology competition in 2000, is also a member of the ACCR and the American Roentgen Ray Society. “Chiropractic in France is at a juncture, which is reflected in the increasing numbers of students signed up for the [Institut Franco–Europeen de Chiropratique] courses,” says Wessely. “The clinic is continuing to grow and the diversity of cases that come through the clinic door is quite staggering. I am always open to receiving emails about imaging questions and would be delighted to help [CP] in any way I can.”

Chiropractic PAC Formed
In an effort to raise money for lobbying efforts and for electing prochiropractic political office seekers, the Chiropractors for Wellness Care Political Action (PAC) Fund has been formed. Many non-MD members of Congress, according to the Chiropractors for Wellness Care PAC, have a promedical viewpoint, which can lead them to view chiropractic with suspicion and hostility. PAC believes that the chiropractic profession needs more representatives in the Senate and House who are either chiropractors or chiropractic supporters.

“The greater the numbers, the more influence the profession will have,” wrote the organizers for one PAC. “A donation from a PAC with 27,000 members carries much more weight than an identical donation from a 10,000 member PAC, or even an identical donation from an individual. This dynamic goes to the very heart of grassroots political advocacy.”

Evaluating NSA and Wellness Outcomes
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2004:10(2);349–367) recently published two articles linking wellness, health lifestyles, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The first article, “Wellness Lifestyles I: A Theoretical Framework Linking Wellness, Health Lifestyles, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine,” forms the foundation of a new theoretical framework for CAM research based on the interrelationships of CAM with health promotion, wellness, and health lifestyles.

The second article, “Wellness Lifestyles II: Modeling the Dynamic of Wellness, Health Lifestyle Practices, and Network Spinal Analysis™ (NSA),” links the use of NSA (a holistic, wellness-oriented form of CAM), health lifestyle practices, and self-reported health and wellness.

Educating Your Patients About Osteoporosis
Approximately 20 million American women suffer from osteoporosis, according to the American Chiropractic Association, and, surprisingly, 80% of them don’t even know it. A study at the University of Arkansas found that unless women are reluctant to change their behavior because of medical beliefs (those who do not believe in doctors, medicine, and/or who do not eat dairy products), educational intervention may improve their bone health and reduce their risk for osteoporosis. The study, “Osteoporosis Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Women Participating in an Osteoporosis Prevention Intervention,” was authored by Lori Turner and Ches Jones, both associate professors of health science. “The goal was to see if we could increase the participants’ knowledge and perhaps modify their behaviors and modify their beliefs through intervention, and if so, this might be a good model to use elsewhere,” says Jones.

Initially, the researchers found a high percentage of women with low bone density readings, but many improved their bone health after participating in an osteoporosis prevention intervention. However, about 20 of the 342 women, all between the ages of 30 and 64, had lower bone density readings at the end of the study because they did not change their behavior.

To help evaluate the importance of bone health, the education intervention included information about determining the authenticity of health food store products and practitioners of alternative medicine. They also attended four classes where they gained information and knowledge about the disease and what they could do to reduce their risk.

It is important for chiropractors to understand this disease as well, because patients not only need to be adjusted differently, chiropractors can adequately inform their patients about the potential risks and the certain modalities that are used to treat it. “Estrogen therapy used to help osteoporosis, but it is now in question because of its potential cancer risk,” says Lisa Bloom, DC. There are other means in question, too. “For example, we know that [calcium] needs to be in an absorbable form and vitamin D must be present,” says Bloom. “A lot of doctors prescribe Tums for calcium, which is unabsorbable.”

Chiropractors can educate their patients about osteoporosis by teaching them what they can do to help prevent it. “For example,” says Bloom, “you lose 25%–35% of your ability to absorb food by the time you reach 50. This causes the stomach acid to be less than what it should be for optimal absorption.” One remedy, according to Bloom, is for an individual to take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a 1/2 cup of water to increase the acidity in their stomach. “Chiropractors can help their patients by increasing accurate knowledge of what types of calcium to take and also what you can do to help the body absorb it.”

Chiropractic Patients Spend $8.7 Billion Annually With more than 30 million people visiting a doctor of chiropractic last year, according to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic is becoming more than a passing trend. Statistics also show that more medical doctors are referring their patients to chiropractors. These patients, according to the recently released 2002 US Economic Census, are paying 25.1 cents of every dollar on their chiropractic bills. This compares to 10.1 cents of every dollar patients seeking traditional medical doctors and podiatrists pay, and 8.1 cents of every dollar that therapy patients pay, which includes physical, occupational and speech therapies, and audiology. Dental patients cover the highest portion of their bills paying 44 cents of every dollar for their care. “The difference in out-of-pocket expenses across the health care disciplines reflects a combination of patients’ medical insurance coverage, insurance policies, managed care guidelines, and willingness to pay cash for health care services,” says Mark Mandell, DC, president of BrainStorm Group, East Brunswick, NJ, a marketing consulting firm for chiropractic product, service, and educational companies. “Specifically for chiropractic and dentistry, there is often less insurance coverage, and as specialists, their patients often have higher copayments and deductibles.” In out-of-pocket expenses, chiropractic patients paid $2.2 billion in 2002. The remainder was covered by government, worker’s compensation, and private insurance. The total money spent on chiropractic care in 2002 was $8.7 billion, at an average revenue growth rate of 6.1%. This figure compares to the $231 billion spent on medical doctors, $67 billion for dentists, $10 billion for therapists and audiologists, and $3.2 billion for podiatrists. “Although it may not compare in size to medicine and dentistry, chiropractic clearly has a major impact on the American economy,” says Mandell. “This sizable economic impact belies the importance of chiropractic to politicians and other key decision-makers in the US Country. It makes them stand up and address our concerns.”

Jaffe and Shapiro Appointed to 2004 Olympic Medical Staff
Two New Jersey chiropractors have been named to the medical staff of the 2004 US Olympic medical staff. Ira A. Shapiro, DC, of Plaza Chiropractic Center in Old Bridge and Mark P. Jaffe, DC, of Jaffe Chiropractic and Sports Center in Summit are part of the 46-person medical team that will provide health care for more than 540 American athletes in Athens, Greece, August 13–29. They are the eighth and ninth chiropractors to be selected by the US Olympic Committee (USOC).

Jaffe and Shapiro were among five chiropractors chosen by a committee of their peers to attend a 2-week internship at the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Then, Shapiro worked with 200 American athletes at the 2003 Titan Games and Jaffe cared for 150 athletes at the 2003 Summer World University Games. As a result of these successful outing, they were notified by the USOC of their selection to the medical staff.

Both doctors are diplomates of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. Jaffe has completed more than 800 hours of postgraduate studies in sports medicine and rehabilitation. Shapiro has more than 300 hours in sports injury rehabilitation, extremity adjusting, and industrial injury and rehabilitation.

Wickes Joins WSCC
In June, David Wickes, DC, joined Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC), Portland, Ore, as chief academic officer after spending the past 25 years at National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, Ill, most recently as senior vice president and provost. “David Wickes brings a wealth of knowledge to WSCC,” says Joseph Brimhall, DC, WSCC president.

Wickes has a strong background in chiropractic education from his time at National University of Health Sciences, formerly National College of Chiropractic. He has served as a member of the board of directors for the Council on Chiropractic Education and was the secretary/treasurer for the CCE Board in 2003–2004. Wickes has also served as a CCE site team member and was the coordinator and primary author for National’s institutional self-study for reaffirmation of programmatic accreditation during 2000 and 2001.

“I am really excited to join Western States,” says Wickes. “It is a terrific college with an excellent program and outstanding faculty.”

James Speaks at Life West Graduation Ceremony On June 12 at the Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward, Calif, 79 students were awarded doctor of chiropractic degrees. The graduating class requested that Life West Professor and Laboratory Manager Stephen James, DC, be the commencement speaker. James has been a professor at the college since 1994. His attendance marked the first time he had been seen since a freeway traffic accident 3 months earlier. Although he is currently on extended medical leave from the college, he continues to make improvements to a full recovery. “We all must keep our eyes on the prize of what we want to accomplish in our lives,” James, who sat in a wheelchair, told the graduates. As he came to the conclusion of his speech, James said, “ I just have one last thing to tell you,” he then pulled himself out of the wheelchair to stand in his walker. “Do not ever give up! And remember, your family and friends are the most important thing you will ever have in your life.”

Evaluating the Benefits of Toftness Chiropractic
New research shows that patients with otitis media may benefit from Toftness chiropractic adjustment. The study, conducted by John Q. Zhang, MD, PhD, and Brian J. Snyder, DC, evaluated nine females and 12 males, ranging from 9 months to 9 years of age, with acute otitis media.

The researchers found consistent finding of acute inflammation in the inner ear with red and bulging tympanic membrane and an increased mean oral temperature of over 100°F. After the Toftness chiropractic adjustment, the red and bulging tympanic membrane returned to normal in 95% of the children. Oral temperature decreased to an average of 98.6°F.

Although the study evaluates only a small number of subjects, the data is strong enough to justify a larger clinical trial.

The study can be found in the March 29, 2004, issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.