PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

World Chiropractic Alliance issues position paper on caring for asymptomatic patients

The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), an organization representing the interests of more than 70,000 doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic students around the world, has issued a strongly worded position paper stating that chiropractic care to detect and correct vertebral subluxations offers benefits for all people, including those who do not demonstrate symptoms of a disease or health condition.

The group’s paper emphasizes that the presence of symptoms and/or a medical diagnosis should not be a factor in determining the need for chiropractic care, and that the presence of symptoms should never be required by any chiropractic board, insurance company or court of law to justify chiropractic care to any patient.

Every day, patients receive care from medical providers for numerous health conditions – from high blood pressure to dental cavities – which don’t announce themselves but require attention if they are to be corrected or controlled. Dozens of health conditions have been dubbed "silent killers" because they can destroy a person’s health without showing any outward symptoms, particularly at the early stage.

For doctors of chiropractic, the "silent killer" is known as the vertebral subluxation, a misalignment of the bones of the spinal column that can interfere with nerve transmission and influence organ system function and general health. Sometimes, this interference results in pain or other obvious physical problems, yet often the damage being done remains invisible for months or even years. Doctors of chiropractic are the only health care professionals specifically trained in the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations.

"We hear all the time about ‘healthy’ people suddenly having heart attacks or coming down with a serious disease or condition," said Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., president of the WCA. "Obviously, they weren’t as healthy as they seemed. Chances are, there was some hidden problem that no one had detected. That problem could have been a subluxation."

The World Chiropractic Alliance issued the position paper after learning of a case in which a state chiropractic licensing board censured a doctor of chiropractic for providing care to a patient who, while not exhibiting any symptoms, chose to have chiropractic adjustments to maintain a higher level of wellness.

"Wellness care is the health trend of the new millennium," Dr. Rondberg explained. "In the past, we waited until we were sick or in pain, then went in search of drugs to control the symptoms. Today, people are doing whatever they can – including eating a healthy diet, exercising properly, and getting chiropractic care – to make sure their bodies are working at optimal levels. They realize they don’t have to make the choice between pain and drugs. They can choose to remain truly healthy by getting appropriate wellness care."

In support of its position, the WCA’s paper refers to the Council on Chiropractic Practice "Clinical Practice Guideline Number 1, Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice," the only chiropractic guideline of its type to be included in the National Guideline Clearinghouse database. The guideline, developed by an international, multi-disciplinary panel, states that "vertebral subluxation may be asymptomatic, yet still exert various physiological effects."

A copy of the complete position paper is available on the World Chiropractic Alliance’s website.