Palmer Cuts Ties With its Alumni Association
As a result of a pattern of behavior by several leaders of Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association (PCCIAA), Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Board of Trustees has ordered the PCCIAA to no longer use the Palmer name. It has also launched an initiative to form a symbiotic relationship with its graduates.“The future of the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association is unclear,” says Scott Harris, president of the PCCIAA. “We’re deeply saddened by their actions. They gave us a list of demands that were unrealistic.” The mission of the PCCIAA is “...to support, promote, and perpetuate the growth and development of Palmer College of Chiropractic and its alumni worldwide,” as well as maximize active alumni involvement, recruit qualified students, provide avenues of support for students, and increase financial support and stability. According to Palmer College officials, the alumni association has focused more on “control than support” over the past several years. There have also been disagreements between the Board and the PCCIAA leadership, culminating in recent attempts by the PCCIAA leadership to obtain voting status for ex-officio members on the Palmer Board of Trustees. “Our Board of Trustees repeatedly expressed its view that such requests were not appropriate,” says a statement released by Palmer College. “As a further reason, the law does not provide for membership of an ‘ex-officio.’” In the Palmer Board’s point of view, the alumni has shown disrespect to the Board, its chair, and to those employed by the college. “We know that the behavior of certain members of the current PCCIAA leadership does not necessarily represent the opinions of its entire membership,” say Palmer College officials. “Please understand that the actions being taken are not meant to dismiss or ignore the input that you, as a valued Palmer alumnus, can offer. Rather, this is a process of reorganizing our supportive alumni into a positive and productive group.” According to school officials, Palmer’s director of alumni, Clay Tuttle, will be organizing a new alumni pool to serve on committees, including a group that will focus on curriculum. |
CEUHS Increases Continuing Education for Chiropractors
The Continuing Education Universe of Health Services (CEUHS) offers more than 500 hours of online chiropractic course options to chiropractors, with the addition of six new courses.
“Online continuing education for chiropractors has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 2 years, and we strive to be the leader in the quality of courses and ease of use while supporting the chiropractic profession,” says Angela M. Lombardi, president and CFO of CEUHS.com. “CEUHS is working hard with its state society partners to make online continuing education an opportunity to expand the knowledge base to which their members have access.”
The new chiropractic courses that will be available include: Nutritional Support for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); Nutritional Support for Alzheimer’s Disease; Nutritional Support for Cognitive Enhancement and Mental Decline; Has Your Thyroid Been Checked Lately? The Story of Hidden Thyroid Disease; Fibromyalgia—New Ideas, Improved Outcomes; and Chronic Pain: Biopsychosocial Aspects.
Chiropractors in 36 states are eligible to take online courses for some or all of their CE requirements. CEUHS.com has also signed agreements with the Kansas Chiropractic Association, Virginia Chiropractic Association, Michigan Chiropractic Society, Massachusetts Chiropractic Society, South Dakota Chiropractic Association, South Carolina Chiropractic Association, and the Chiropractor’s Association of Australia to offer special access to CE courses for their members.
Insurance Coverage of Chiropractic Care Saves Money
California Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) has introduced legislation to require health insurers to include chiropractic care as a covered benefit.
“Everyone who must grapple with the astronomical costs of health care—insurers, patients, employers, and the government—will benefit from wider access to chiropractic care, which can provide proven cost savings to the health care system,” says Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), coauthor of the legislation.
The bill, AB 1185, was prompted by a study conducted by the Boston University School of Public Health, which reported that health care spending soaks up 24% of the growth in the US economy; and health care expenditures will grow to $1.9 trillion this year—an increase of $621 billion from 2000.
Another study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared 700,000 medical health plan members with chiropractic benefits to 1,000,000 members without chiropractic benefits in California. The study found that the inclusion of a chiropractic benefit resulted in lower overall health care expenses and 31% fewer back surgeries. It also found that access to chiropractic care resulted in a cost savings of 1.6% in overall health care expenditures.
“This legislation aims to ensure that those who prefer chiropractic for the treatment of their back, neck, shoulder, and hand pain can access it on an equal basis as other treatments for their health’s sake and to save money,”Koretz says.
Can Chiropractic Help Treat Oxidative Stress?
Chiropractors collaborating with researchers at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology of Tumor Immunology at the University of Lund, Sweden, have found that chiropractic care could influence physiological processes affecting oxidative stress and DNA repair. “Going through life, we experience physical, chemical, and emotional stress, which affect the function of the nervous system,” says Christopher Kent, DC, one of the authors of the study. “Oxidative stress results in DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair, which is the mechanism that fixes the damage caused by environmental impact.”
The researchers measured serum thiol levels (primary antioxidants that serve as a measure of human health status) in 25 patients under short-term chiropractic care and 21 patients under long-term chiropractic care. The results were compared to those of a nonchiropractic-treated control group of 30 subjects. The study found that patients in long-term chiropractic care of 2 or more years reestablished a normal physiological state, and symptom-free subjects under chiropractic care demonstrated higher serum thiol levels than patients with an active disease. “Chiropractors apply spinal adjustments to correct disturbances of nerve function, which appears to improve the ability of the body to adapt to stress,” Kent says. “Further research is needed to gain additional insights that will ultimately lead to improved clinical outcomes.” |
Chiropractic May Help Reduce Pregnancy-Related Ailments
According to Martha Collins, DC, Kingston, Ontario, chiropractic care through pregnancy is not only safe, it is essential.
“We can look at the implications of subluxation from a biomechanical, hormonal, and neurological standpoint,” Collins says. “It is easy for all of us to see postural changes through pregnancy. What we can’t see are the millions of different hormonal changes and chemical reactions occurring both in the mother and the developing baby—all of which are controlled and coordinated through the nervous system.”
One study found that women who receive chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24% shorter labor times than those who did not receive chiropractic care. In addition, multiparous subjects (those who have given birth two or more times) reported 39% shorter labor times. Furthermore, 84% of women who received chiropractic care reported relief of back pain during pregnancy.
“As the pregnancy goes on, ligaments and tendons loosen to prepare for the ultimate childbirth, and the back in some women can become quite unstable,” says Corrie Horshinski, DC, who recommends regular chiropractic adjustments for sufferers of pregnancy-related sciatica. “Some women get better with a couple of visits; but for those with severe sciatica, monthly visits are recommended.”
According to Horshinski, women who exercise regularly and do not overeat before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy may have an easier time dealing with the discomforts of their condition, because those with good muscle tone are better able to support their body structure and have more control over their range of motion during a sciatica attack.
Although a few women with severe forms of sciatica may receive prescriptions to relieve pain, Horshinski prefers to stay away from pharmaceuticals during pregnancy. Instead, she recommends soft-tissue massages, bed rest, and wet heat alternated with ice-pack applications to help calm muscle and nerve spasms.
Managing Infantile Colic With Chiropractic
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics has revealed a better ratio of decreased discomfort and crying associated with infantile colic pains when parents took them in for chiropractic care, as opposed to the common drug dimethicone.
“I believe the most confusing thing in medicine is that chiropractors don't ‘treat’ illnesses like infantile colic,” says Frank M. Painter, DC. “We look at the nervous system as the ‘control panel’ for the body, and we observe interference in the ‘conduit’ of the spine (what we call subluxations), which may interfere with the normal operation of the body systems.”
The study included 30 infants between the ages of 0 and 8 weeks who were diagnosed as suffering from infantile colic by their pediatrician. The infants were then divided into two groups. For 2 weeks, one group underwent chiropractic spinal manipulation, while the other group received the drug dimethicone.
In the course of the study, the infants who underwent chiropractic adjustments reduced their crying by 67%, compared to the drug therapy group, who only had a 38% reduction in crying.
“When we adjust the spine, removing interference, there are often remarkable changes in the health of our patients,” Painter says. “The simple truth is that we are not practicing medicine... we are practicing the art of chiropractic. It's lovely for our patients to have a choice between the drug/surgery approach and the holistic approach of chiropractic.”
Chiropractic Care May Save Your Pet’s Life
Steven Geldenhuys, a chiropractor who practices in Pretoria, South Africa, specializes in treating domestic pets, hoping that his skills will be able to prevent animals from being put to sleep because of debilitating health ailments. “Often, animals are put to sleep because the nature of their injuries or ailments is unknown and there is no cure for them,” Geldenhuys says.
According to Geldenhuys, household pets sustain injuries such as twisted legs and backs when slipping on floors and jumping off chairs and beds, which leave them in severe pain. Another cause of injuries in animals, he adds, is the birth process. “It is assumed that the muscle contractions on the ill-positioned puppy in the womb can place pressure on the joints and affect their proper alignment,” Geldenhuys says. The treatment Geldenhuys provides to animals is the same treatment he provides to humans. The only difference, he notes, is knowing the specific angle of the animal joints, which differs from humans. “It is important to know that chiropractic care is not a replacement for traditional veterinary medicine and surgery,” Geldenhuys says. “In order for animal chiropractors to treat their patients, they have to be referred by a veterinarian; and although it is not guaranteed to help, it is worth a visit because it is a lot better than painful surgery.” |
Will Veterans Have Access to Chiropractic Care?
Congressman Bob Filner (D-Calif) has reintroduced legislation to provide veterans with direct access to a DC through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
“Our nation’s veterans deserve the best health care this country can offer, and chiropractic care is an integral component of that care,” says Donald J. Krippendorf, DC, American Chiropractic Association (ACA) president and US Navy veteran. “The ACA is proud to work together with Congressman Filner—a powerful and effective advocate for veterans—to protect the rights of doctors of chiropractic and their patients.”
Originally introduced last year, the “Better Access to Chiropractors to Keep our Veterans Healthy Act” (bill HR 917) is one of many initiatives the ACA and Filner are pursuing to ensure unimpeded access to chiropractic care for this nation’s veterans.
With this bill, Filner seeks to send a message to those who oppose chiropractic that America’s veterans will not be denied the chiropractic care they need and deserve. The measure also seeks to amend Title 38 (Veterans Benefits) of the United States Code to allow eligible veterans to receive direct access to chiropractic care at VA hospitals and clinics. In addition, the bill prohibits discrimination among licensed health care providers by the VA in determining what services a patient needs.
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