August 2008

In the times of change

by Dr. Richard Barwell

Over the centuries, human beings have had to come to terms with change. Many times these changes were not just some simple shift but amounted to radical alterations in life. They would bring on challenges from those who just wanted life to remain under control, even though staying in the old pattern could or would end in disaster.

I recall the warning to those living at Spirit Lake on Mount St. Helens in Washington. One old timer refused to move and was lost in the eruption. Others lost everything and had to start over while those who listened and packed their possessions were able to move on to a new life.

Today chiropractic faces change  -- change that is past due. As one of the critics of the profession states: "Why is it that while other health professions have progressed and changed over the last 100 years, the chiropractic profession continues to stand on DD Palmer's concept of bone on nerve being the cause of all disease?"

Our tendency as a profession is to feel that the criticisms from those in opposition to chiropractic are unfair and biased, when in fact we should be listening to them. It is our responsibility to offer a more up-to-date explanation of what is really happening with chiropractic care. The true challenge we have as a profession is not to continue to defend chiropractic within the 100 year-old dogma and rhetoric, but to realize there is now available information and research that not only supports the original concepts, but can also explain why the adjustment alters neurological function.

However, this view requires change and creates a division within the profession from those who think that vertebral displacement (VS) defines chiropractic. It doesn't. In a 1930 speech titled, "The Hour has Arrived," BJ Palmer said, "Vertebral Subluxation is a symptom of interference of Innate and not a cause." This statement, made some 78 years ago by the man responsible for the development of our profession, told us that we needed to change our understanding of what we were doing in chiropractic  -- but we didn't listen.

Change requires effort and disruption, and unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) the power of the adjustment lets us get away with less than optimal attention when delivering care. It is easy to merely adjust fixations of the spine and call it chiropractic. Does this approach get results? Yes, but is it possible to do less, more specifically, and get better results? The answer is yes, and the new instrumentation can prove this statement: better results up to and including changes in brain function with one single adjustment. Not only this, but we can now see the effect of chiropractic care on the sympathetic/parasympathetic balance on six different levels -- with one correctly done adjustment! Additionally, we can show when too much or an incorrect adjustment has been done.

So, here is where I have to ask the dreaded question. If you knew that you could do a better job of adjusting your patients, with the outcome being better for them, better for you and better for the profession, why wouldn't you change? The concepts of neurologically based chiropractic (NBC) do not abandon the traditional foundations of chiropractic, but update them. They do not continue the perception that chiropractic is some sort of cult, rather they bring it into the reality of neurological function. NBC concepts do not hold that one technique is better than another, but  instead explain why an adjustment alters neurological function.

I find it interesting that we expect our colleges to be the leaders in change, with new graduates bringing forth new ideas and information, when in reality they can be the last instruments of change. The educational systems operate on established criteria approved by accrediting bodies to whom change represents a threat. Change will come from the practitioner learning to provide better care. It will come from outside academia -- from researchers who are invested in growth.

This technology isn't new; it's been used is in thousands of offices around the world. One of the fastest growing segments is chiropractic and it's changed those practices forever. I am proud to be associated with the continual development of instrumentation relying on this technology, which with the research data and practice improvements it offers, has the power to advance chiropractic into the future. I am proud to be associated with the continual development of instrumentation relying on this technology, which with the research data and practice improvements it offers, has the power to advance chiropractic into the future.

How do I know? I have been there from the start of the development and application of neurologically based chiropractic using this instrumentation. I have seen its power to elevate our profession within the field of health without selling our soul. I will continue to be involved in future developments, as this is simply too important to chiropractic in the time of change to even think of stopping.

Call DeDe Van Riper (877-233-0022) with questions you might have and for additional information about chiropractic instrumentation. Ms. Van Riper has extensive knowledge and experience in the chiropractic field, having worked with Insight Technology, Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, Now You Know, and other major chiropractic companies.

Is this your time of change?

(Dr. Richard Barwell is the founder and president of the Chiropractic Equity Offices, Inc. program, and has more than 30 years of experience in chiropractic practice. After graduating with honors from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1964, he started a family Wellness Practice in British Columbia. He has since established numerous successful practices, won several awards and guest lectured at various chiropractic institutions. Before establishing CEO, Inc. Dr. Barwell was the director of seminars and programs at Quest and executive director of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.)