Dynamic Chiropractic

This article stresses the criticality of accurate charting in chiropractic risk management, particularly focusing on the clinical discussion that links findings to recommended treatment. The author advises that while Electronic Health Record (EHR) templates are useful for recording factual exam findings, the DC’s professional opinion and ethical obligations should be documented in a separate, dedicated, non-templated section labeled "Discussion". This addresses risks identified by the U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG), such as inaccuracies arising from improper copy-pasting or auto-population in EHR systems. A detailed medicolegal case study of a 44-year-old delivery carrier is presented, suffering from chronic lower extremity pain attributed to work injury, along with plantar fasciitis history. The examination revealed specific issues like an antalgic limp, a proprioceptive disorder (inability to single-leg stance without assistance), and pain inconsistent with a simple lumbar dermatomal pattern. The clinical discussion identified a potential Baxter’s nerve entrapment—a key differential diagnosis often misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis. The proper documentation justifies chiropractic manipulation to break up adhesions alongside essential referrals for potential surgical consult, MRI (to evaluate nerve entrapment), and ankle X-rays (to measure degenerative joint disease), thereby supporting medical necessity and mitigating legal risk.

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) has made a major step in its mission to become the nation's first Integrative, Whole Health University by announcing an agreement with Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS). Pending regulatory approval, PCHS’ San Diego and Chicago campuses—including all students, faculty, staff, and academic programs—will officially join SCU in May 2026. PCHS, founded in 1986 as Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, is the largest acupuncture and herbal medicine school in the U.S., also offering curricula in holistic nursing and massage therapy. According to Dr. John Scaringe, President and CEO of SCU, this agreement not only creates a "national hub for TCM education, innovation, and advocacy" but also significantly expands SCU’s influence on whole-person care and healthcare transformation. As part of the merger, SCU will also acquire the Pacific Center for Lifelong Learning, the PCHS cosmetic acupuncture program, and the annual Pacific Symposium conference. This move signifies a cohesive strategy among health education institutions to meet the growing demand for comprehensive, integrative healthcare practitioners. PCHS will retain its New York campus, as it is excluded from this agreement.

The article highlights BAC-PAC (Better Access to Chiropractic PAC) as a critical initiative designed to address chiropractic’s long-standing lag in political influence, which has historically restricted patient access and limited reimbursement in Washington, D.C.. BAC-PAC is the profession’s first and only federal super PAC, dedicated to electing and supporting pro-chiropractic members of Congress. Unlike traditional political action committees, a super PAC can raise and spend unlimited funds independently, allowing the profession to act with speed and scale in key elections—a powerful new tool to influence outcomes. Born from the Chiropractic Future Strategic Plan, BAC-PAC represents a shift toward "playing offense" politically, matching the profession’s strategy to the scope of its clinical contributions. The success of the organization was demonstrated in 2024 when a targeted 30-second ad helped re-elect Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, proving that strategic political investment can yield measurable results. Crucially, BAC-PAC operates non-partisanship, supporting candidates—Democrat, Republican, or Independent—who support chiropractic’s place in modern healthcare. The future success of this effort, which relies entirely on contributions and commitment, will shape whether the profession succeeds or merely survives.

Addressing the pervasive crisis of professional burnout—a 2022 study revealed a 63% burnout rate among U.S. medical doctors, with moderate to high emotional exhaustion also reported by chiropractors—this article introduces a remarkably simple yet powerful intervention: the use of a smartwatch. A recent randomized clinical trial tracked 184 physicians and found that giving doctors a way to monitor their own physiological data, such as heart rate, sleep cycles, and step count, led to a 54.0% reduction in the odds of overall burnout after six months. This intervention not only reduced burnout but also improved resilience scores beyond that seen in previous studies, with well-being gains sustained for a full 12 months. By providing quantitative measures of physiological functioning, the smartwatch promoted greater self-awareness and self-regulation, which are key components of overall well-being. The central lesson for Doctors of Chiropractic is profoundly important: Be your own best patient. By taking their own health seriously, DCs can teach by example, provide care for many years, and avoid the negative downstream effects of burnout, such as increased medical errors, malpractice litigation, and lost productivity.

This article advocates for the integration of regenerative medicine with rehabilitation, describing these advanced therapies as a "force multiplier" for chronic soft-tissue injuries that fail to resolve with rehab alone. When persistent inflammation, disorganized collagen, and scarred tissues require a deeper biological reset, regenerative options—which are now considered frontline—come into play. These therapies include Acoustic Shockwave Therapy, which uses mechanical pulses to stimulate neovascularization and break down calcific deposits, proving effective for conditions like tendinopathies. Dextrose Prolotherapy is utilized to provoke controlled inflammation and collagen regeneration, restoring ligamentous integrity and reducing joint instability. Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Therapy, often sourced from Wharton’s jelly, offers potent anti-inflammatory properties, promoting angiogenesis and guiding native repair cells to remodel tissue. Lastly, Peptide Therapy, involving precision biologics like BPC-157 and TB-500, targets specific pathways to enhance soft-tissue recovery and nerve healing. The author emphasizes that successful recovery relies on a multidisciplinary model, where chiropractors manage biomechanical correction and loading, collaborating with MDs or NPs who perform the biologic interventions, leading to quicker recovery times and reduced reinjury rates.

This article provides an evidence-based approach for Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) to manage Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP), a common condition affecting between 20% and 50% of pregnant women. PPGP is understood as a complex condition driven by hormonal changes (like joint laxity from relaxin), altered biomechanics, and crucial muscle imbalances. The author asserts that chiropractors are ideally positioned to deliver individualized care, combining manual therapy with exercise to restore function. Recent 2025 research reinforces the efficacy of specific functional stability exercises and structured aerobic and resistance training in reducing pain and disability. The article details five key, research-supported exercises. These include activating the deep stabilizers (Transversus Abdominis and Multifidus) to enhance pelvic joint stability, strengthening the Gluteus Medius through side-lying hip abduction, and utilizing low-impact techniques like the Bear Position Hover and Aquatic-Based Stabilization for coordinated muscle activation. DCs are advised to use assessment tools like the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) to tailor protocols and should always pair exercises with gentle sacroiliac joint (SIJ) adjustments and patient education to improve maternal health outcomes.

The article serves as a crucial warning to clinicians regarding the limitations of "Dr. AI," cautioning that significant blind spots can easily mislead patients who place too much trust in its answers. A primary limitation is access: AI models are largely restricted to open-access journals, leaving approximately 75% of medical literature inaccessible due to subscription paywalls. When full text is blocked, AI often defaults to abstracts, which is highly problematic. Studies show that nearly 32% of abstracts contain errors, omissions, or "spin" that distorts conclusions, sometimes resulting in a 39% discordance between the abstract and the full report. Relying on these summaries means AI guidance can rest on shaky ground. Furthermore, identifying deep methodological weaknesses in full-text studies—such as biased designs or underpowered samples—requires domain expertise and critical appraisal skills that currently exceed AI’s abilities. For chiropractic practice, this means patients may arrive with convincing but weakly supported AI conclusions about back pain or cervical manipulation safety. Clinicians must counter this by clarifying context, ensuring decisions are grounded in sound clinical judgment, and always verifying AI claims by demanding citations and direct links to the full study.

Troy University, a public institution in Alabama with a history spanning 138 years, is set to host the nation’s second Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program at a U.S. public university. The program has received approval from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, with final accreditation pending from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Strategically located at the Dothan campus due to its proximity to states like Georgia and Florida, the program aims to serve a wide regional student base. The inaugural class of DC students is expected to commence instruction in the fall of 2027. This initiative is described as a historic and transformative decision for healthcare in Alabama and the Southeast. Crucially, the program is designed to directly address Alabama’s critical shortage of healthcare providers, particularly in rural communities, by training new chiropractic providers committed to local community service. The DC program will be integrated into the university’s College of Health Sciences, joining related majors such as nursing, exercise physiology, and athletic training.

This article, the sixth installment in a series, honors Dr. Claire Welsh, DC, FICA, recognizing her as a Hall of Honor Charter Inductee for her extraordinary fervor and dedication to the chiropractic profession. Dr. Welsh earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree magna cum laude in 1988 from Life Chiropractic College, following an academically distinguished career that included work as a bacteriologist and a high school special education teacher. Her professional life is marked by significant leadership and advocacy. She served in key roles within the Georgia Council of Chiropractic (GCC), including President in 2009, and was a longtime Georgia representative in the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) Representative Assembly. Dr. Welsh received the ICA “Unstoppable Award” in 2022, primarily for her unrelenting commitment to ICA membership recruitment. The author, Dr. James D. Edwards, worked alongside Dr. Welsh and attested that he never met a DC with more fervor and commitment, noting her remarkable ability to hold ICA assemblymen accountable for their recruitment duties. The article concludes by announcing the existence of the Hall of Honor website (www.WomenChiropracticDoctors.com) and soliciting nominations for future heroines to ensure the continuity of this important work.

Hiring staff in a growing chiropractic practice should be a strategic move, not a reaction driven by stress or burnout. The article helps practitioners navigate the "growth tension," highlighting the risks of hiring too soon (creating financial pressure and overwhelmed management) versus waiting too long (leading to clinician burnout and compromised patient care). The path to success lies in intentional expansion. Before posting a job ad, DCs must ask five smart questions. First, is patient flow consistent and based on a system that attracts patients to the practice generally, rather than solely to the DC?. Second, is the DC ready for a mindset shift toward delegation, accepting that others may initially perform tasks only "70% as good"? Third, will the hire free up the DC to focus on revenue-generating or high-impact work, ensuring expenses do not increase while revenue remains flat?. Fourth, is the break-even point calculated, with clear criteria and a timeframe for the new hire to become profitable?. Finally, are systems in place for onboarding, retention, and culture-building to ensure the new hire's success from day one?. When executed strategically, hiring is a powerful leadership moment that protects the DC's energy and aligns with the long-term vision.

A recent study highlights a significant disparity in continuing education (CE) requirements across healthcare professions, revealing barriers that specifically hinder the professional development of chiropractors (DCs). The research compared state licensing board information and found that non-DC professionals, including medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathy (DOs), and athletic trainers (ATs), are afforded significantly more opportunities to earn CE credit for research and academic activities. Specifically, MDs, DOs, and ATs are recognized for CE credit for teaching and/or research in all 50 states. In sharp contrast, the study found that only 16 states (32%) allow DCs to claim CE credit for engaging in research activities, and only half of states recognize credit for teaching. The research team concludes that this regulatory barrier is highly likely to be hindering the chiropractic profession’s overall research capacity, compounding the existing shortage of DCs trained and experienced in clinical research. Given the need for practitioners to remain current with the rapid proliferation of health literature, the article issues a call to action, recommending that state chiropractic boards reconsider their policies to allow CE credit for research and teaching, thereby supporting practice-based research and moving the profession forward.

This article dispels several persistent myths surrounding lateral hip pain, now correctly identified as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). Myth Buster #1 establishes that localized lateral hip pain is rarely caused by an inflamed trochanteric bursa (found in less than 3% of cases); it is overwhelmingly a gluteal tendinopathy, typically involving the medius and minimus tendons. Furthermore, Myth Buster #2 clarifies that GTPS is not solely a condition of postmenopausal women, affecting athletes, adult males, and postpartum females due to various factors like drop in estrogen levels or femoral acetabular impingement. Diagnosis is achieved through a cluster of findings, including palpable tenderness combined with weakness and pain during isolated contraction, such as the 30-second single-leg stance test. Regarding treatment, Myth Buster #4 warns that GTPS is not self-resolving and requires early, active care to avoid chronicity. Clamshell exercises and ITB stretching are explicitly discouraged, as they aggravate the condition by applying compressive loading forces to the tendons. Finally, Myth Buster #5 advises against using corticosteroid injections as a front-line intervention, as they offer limited long-term benefit and can impede healing by negatively affecting collagen synthesis. Effective management involves a multimodal approach: correcting pathomechanics, limiting lifestyle factors that cause hip adduction (e.g., cross-legged sitting), and progressively loading the tendons with pain-modulated exercises.

Pediatric chiropractic is experiencing an unprecedented surge in relevance, fueled by the Information Age and a growing public dissatisfaction with the limitations of the modern medical model. This shift has provided holistic practitioners with a much larger voice. The article highlights critical pediatric trends that are leading parents to seek chiropractic care. For instance, alarming statistics from the CDC show autism rates have soared, raising serious concerns among parents. Additionally, recent alterations to CDC developmental milestones—such as removing creeping and crawling—suggest that common delays are being normalized, prompting parents to seek help outside traditional channels. A second major factor is the "epidemic" of tethered oral tissues (tongue tie), which has seen the surgical procedure (frenotomy) increase by 866% since 1997. However, due to medical scrutiny concerning over-diagnosis and over-treatment, prominent bodies like the AAP and ABM are now recommending "conservative approaches," explicitly mentioning chiropractic care, before surgical intervention. This medical recommendation, combined with increasing referrals from lactation professionals and pediatric dentists, underscores the unique and growing opportunity for chiropractors in family wellness to address issues like breastfeeding difficulties and neurodevelopmental challenges.

This piece emphasizes that genuine recovery involves reversing dysfunctional compensation patterns and restoring normal function, extending beyond the mere cessation of pain. Effective rehabilitation requires combining evidence-based interventions with precise correction. The foundation of effective rehab is Progressive Loading, where appropriately modulated stress stimulates tissue remodeling and tendon hypertrophy, a principle crucial for conditions like tendinopathy. The principle of "load must be appropriate, progressive, and pain-modulated" is key. The second cornerstone is Neuromuscular Re-Education, aimed at unlearning maladaptive behaviors and retraining the Central Nervous System (CNS) through techniques such as Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and rhythmic stabilization. Manual Therapy acts as a crucial preparatory step, clearing soft-tissue restrictions and joint fixations to restore mobility and enhance the effectiveness of subsequent re-education exercises. Additionally, Therapeutic Modalities—including high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) for healing and acoustic shockwave therapy for chronic conditions—provide technological support to accelerate recovery and promote neuromuscular reset. The overall goal is a systemic, dynamic approach that assesses the entire kinetic chain and integrates proper motor strategies during functional movements, moving beyond focus on a single muscle or joint.

This article serves as a critical exposé on the practices of insurance companies administering Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, detailing corruption and schemes that undermine the system. A major concern is "upcoding," where insurers deliberately add bogus or more complex, highly reimbursed diagnoses to patient records to extract significantly higher payments from the federal government, often for conditions the patient was never treated for. This fraudulent practice, incentivized by the 2003 Modernization Act which rewarded higher reimbursement for sicker members, leads to ridiculous discrepancies in complex diagnosis prevalence compared to traditional Medicare. The author recounts a personal experience where their MA company offered a physician house call—a tactic used to generate false complex diagnoses for higher revenue. Beyond financial fraud, MA companies engage in "cherry-picking," employing tactics like holding seminars in venues without elevators to discourage sick, high-cost seniors from enrolling. They also cancel policies of the sickest members and even pay nursing homes bonuses to limit expensive hospital transfers for acutely sick residents. While many seniors choose MA, the system relies on cumbersome preauthorization processes that frequently deny necessary, expensive procedures, impacting patient care and potentially affecting future chiropractic managed care contracts.