November 2008

No more spine pictures for me!

by Dr. Susan G. Lecy

Like most chiropractors, I've spent many hours in thought about the basic premise of our profession. Do I truly have a subluxation-based practice and if I do, how do I communicate that with my patients? I went to many philosophy seminars, took certification for wellness courses and purchased the best instrumentation available. But when communicating with my patients it always came down to the bottom line: prove it.

I bought every version of the Insight and Millennium substations. I listened intently to the instructors who explained the neurology of the subluxation and how the adjustment affected the nervous system. Yet, when it came down to the actual proof, I was left short.

My scans were not reproducible. My communication about neurology was completely lost on patients. If a subluxation is really caused by toxins, trauma and stress, how does that happen and how do we measure it? Most importantly, how do we really prove what works? I couldn't -- not with the Substation I had in my office, the x-ray machine or the ortho tests I was doing.

As much as I learned and practiced, there was always something missing between the exam, instrumentation, and explanation to patients. When other professionals wanted information, I would always have a flash of uncertainty whenever I got to a certain point in the conversation.

I began to feel guilty that I was not all I could be to the profession. I started resenting the symbol of the spine whenever I saw one in an advertisement or on a business card.

Now that I know neurology can truly be measured in a reproducible way and that neurology is key to chiropractic, I can have faith in the philosophy, art, and science of our profession.

The drawing of the spine in the report of findings has been replaced with the brain and nervous system models. I have confidence that we as a profession can demonstrate to the world what we've known for more than a century. There are real, measurable changes to the human body with a chiropractic adjustment. These can now be reproduced and documented for the entire world to see.

So, if you've pondered these questions yourself, know that you're not alone.

(Dr. Susan G. Lecy, is a 1992 graduate of National College of Chiropractic and has had Wellness practices in Wisconsin and Minnesota.