August 2003

Wall Street Journal editor gets lesson in chiropractic terminology

When Rhonda L. Rundle, news editor for The Wall Street Journal, incorrectly used the term "spinal manipulation" to describe chiropractic adjustments, it wasn't surprising that at least one person would alert her to her mistake.

Chiropractic patient G.E. Moon, II, did just that, explaining that "Chiropractors ADJUST spines. You do this great profession a true disservice when you use the wrong language."

Most reporters and editors would have been grateful for the opportunity to improve their understanding of the profession, but Ms. Rundle took offense at Mr. Moon's reprimand and shot back a testily worded response: "No, it is you who should do your research before writing an insulting note like this. Spinal manipulation is the correct term."

Rather than engage in a verbal battle with Rundle, Moon sent a copy of the exchange to the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA). "I guess this person doesn't want anyone to view chiropractic differently than her," he lamented.

WCA President Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., contacted the WSJ editor and expanded on Moon's explanation.

"I was recently shown a letter sent to you by G.E. Moon II, concerning the use of the term 'spinal manipulation' to describe the service provided by chiropractors. In your response, you stated, 'Spinal manipulation is the correct term.' Actually, while many writers (and even some chiropractors) use the term interchangeably with adjustment, it is not the correct term when describing chiropractic care," he instructed.

"Doctors of chiropractic are highly trained in the use of the adjustment, which is the specific application of force to the spine to return it to proper structural and functional form, with the express purpose of correcting vertebral subluxation (nerve interference).

"Spinal manipulation, on the other hand, is a general procedure used by a number of health care professionals (including M.D.s, osteopaths, and some physical therapists) to alter the position of joints. It is the forceful, passive movement of a joint beyond its active limit of motion. Since it doesn't imply the use of precision, specificity or the correction of nerve interference, it is not synonymous with chiropractic adjustment."

To back up his argument, Dr. Rondberg referred Rundle to The Council on Chiropractic Practice "Guideline #1: Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice," the only chiropractic guideline indexed on the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC).

"While the differences may appear subtle, they are so important that separate definitions of the two terms have been included in state legislation," he added. "Since the use of proper terminology is critical to proper understanding, particularly in science and health writing, it is crucial to use the term adjustment when referring to the procedure used by doctors of chiropractic to correct subluxations. The less precise term, spinal manipulation, should be used only to describe the procedure used by non‑D.C.s for non‑chiropractic purposes."

Although Rundle failed to reply to the WCA, Rondberg says he thinks it's important for the WCA to continually respond to such mistakes in the press.

"Whether out of ignorance or a deliberate attempt to mischaracterize chiropractic, reporters and editors often use the wrong terminology when discussing chiropractic. This leads to confusion among the public. Only when people understand what chiropractic truly is all about will they completely embrace it."