Spinal decompression equipment, rehabilitation equipment, and laser therapy will continue their technological advancement in the coming months.

Those are just some of the chiropractic product trends that will take place in the near future, according to several chiropractors who Chiropractic Products contacted.

But several of the chiropractors say that technology will advance in other areas, as well.

"I believe products in technology are the increasing trend in chiropractic, such as sophisticated note-taking systems, appointment booking, and entire office-management systems like Odyssey, which is a practice-management computer software," said Irma Leon Palmer, DC, Birmingham, Ala.

Chiropractors will continue to embrace technology in areas such as spinal videofluoroscopy.

Mark Pitstick, DC, Chillicothe, Ohio, says that for 15 years, he has been using spinal videofluoroscopy—which is a video x-ray machine that evaluates the spine in motion.

"This imaging approach allows static and motion views of the spine at very low radiation levels," Pitstick says. "It revolutionizes analysis of the vertebral subluxation complex and allows safe, accurate post-treatment evaluation. My wish for all DCs is that we embrace this technology to provide 21st-century corrective and wellness spinal care for everyone."

Documentation products that improve daily notes will be hot in 2007.

Rehab and Exercise

But several chiropractors who gave their opinions to Chiropractic Products mentioned rehab and exercise equipment as a trend to watch for in the near future.

Kyzor M. Dahdah, BS, DC, Ft Lauderdale, Fla, says that the market for spinal-decompression equipment will continue to grow. "There is a lot of research involved in spinal decompression, the scientific basis for it, and the data that has been collected about the patients' outcomes," Dahdah says.

Roy Ostenson, DC, Appleton, Wis, says that actual spinal correction and fortification, such as that offered by MedX rehabilitation equipment, will be a top trend. He says that improved exercise machines and computerized nutritional analysis will stand out.

"There are so many things that we can do for a patient," he says. "The drugs and surgery just keep people numb and dying a slow, fat, uncomfortable, unhealthy death."

Continuing on the rehab and exercise theme is Tom Hyde, DC, DACBSP, Miami, who mentioned a product—the iJoyBoard and Work Station—which he believes is the way of the future. He says the iJoyBoard is an electrical device with a top that looks like a skateboard or a snowboard without the foot straps. It is used to help improve proprioception, he says.

"In the past, many of us used biomechanical ankle platform system (BAPS) boards and Swiss balls," Hyde says. He adds that over the last couple of years, several balance devices were created to include the both sides utilized (BOSU), Dynadisc (air-filled circular pad), compressed foam pads, smaller non-air-filled half circles, and others.

"The iJoyBoard can be used to sit on, kneel on, and stand on," Hyde says. "There are four speeds. In addition to using this to stand on, you can also use it for the upper extremity. It is possible to perform push-ups on this device or even just hold the push-up position during the vibration." Hyde says its cost is minimal and it can be used for young and older patients. "We know that falls among the aging population is a serious and growing problem as the Baby Boomers reach 60-plus," Hyde says. "This is just one more device a chiropractor can use effectively in his or her office. It takes up little space."

Technology

Chiropractors such as Lynne Sullivan, DC, Pleasanton, Calif, believe that technology will continue to advance in 2007. Specifically, Sullivan says she believes technology in the area of patient education will be a trend to watch.

"For our profession to grow, we need to educate our patients of the value and benefit they get in chiropractic and all the things that chiropractors can help them with," Sullivan says. "Patients starting care with low back pain have no idea that chiropractic can help them with sinus infections and more. If all of our patients knew what we know about chiropractic, they would do what we do: get adjusted for wellness for life. The systems that I have in place are our internal lay lectures (PowerPoint presentations), a weekly patient-education and referral system, and a reactivation system. For all of these systems, products have helped me meet my goals."

Echoing the technology theme is Elliot Foster, DC, East Rutherford, NJ, who says the next big product for the profession will be a system or high-technology item that will support the DC in documenting the care offered. He adds that this is especially important now that insurance companies are requiring more documentation. "Their goal of gumming up the DC's office with paperwork will work; the need to streamline the procedure will combat it and provide incentive for the DC," Foster says.