Discussion on Chiropractic philosophy, Chiropractic in society and chiropractic in education. Prepared by Dr. Brad Atkinson (Chiropractor).

1. "For chiropractic to progress
it no longer needs
philosophy"
Dr. Brad Atkinson. B.App.Sci(Clin. Sci), B.Chiro.Sci, ICSSD.

2.  ―Chiropractic‖ comes from the Greek word
Chiropraktikos, meaning ―done by hand.
http://chiropractors.asn.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=What_is_Chiropractic
 The definition of Chiropractic according to the Chiropractors
Association of Australia.– Chiropractic is a health care discipline
based on the scientific premise that the body is a self-
regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are
controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the
body
 A health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment
and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system
and the effects of these disorders on general health. There is an
emphasis on manual techniques, including joint adjustment
and/or manipulation with a particular focus on subluxations.
World Health Organization, Guidelines on
Chiropractic, 2005
Defining Chiropractic...

3.  Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the
inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself
without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of
chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure
(primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the
nervous system) and how that relationship affects the
preservation and restoration of health. In addition, doctors
of chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of
working in cooperation with other health care practitioners
when in the best interest of the patient.
The Association of Chiropractic Colleges
definition, 1996
 Is everybody OK with these definitions?
Defining Chiropractic...

4.  Progress
 a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage.
 advancement in general.
 growth or development; continuous improvement:
 the development of an individual or society in a direction
considered more beneficial than and superior to the previo-
us level.
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/progress
Defining Progress...

5.  What is your definition of progress for
Chiropractic?
◦ Absorbed into medicine?
◦ Become Mainstream?
 Greater utilisation of chiropractic in society?
◦ According to the public survey conducted by the
CAA(SA) 68% of the population have used
Chiropractors at some stage in there life. 9% in the
last month.
Independent public survey conducted by Square Holes research for the CAASA, 2010.
 Does anybody have any other ideas for the
progress of chiropractic?
Defining Progress...

6.  Physiologist I.M. Korr in 1974 admonished the
osteopathic profession to hold fast to its principles –
 ―There are misapprehensions about the source of
your strength. Your profession appears to believe that
its strength is to be found more in the stamps of
approval by self-appointed magistrates of medicine.
...As a result, you often act as though you believed
your strength is to be nurtured by mimicry, by cloaks
of protective coloration, by compromise of principles,
by organized compliance, by appeasement, and by
adaptation to what is prescribed for you by
organizations of another profession.‖
 Now what does Osteopathy stand for in the US?
Osteopathy in United States...

7.  Question
 Isthat what you want for the
future of Chiropractic?

8.  Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental
problems, such as those connected with
reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind,
and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other
ways of addressing such problems by its critical,
generally systematic approach and its reliance
on rational argument.
 The word "philosophy" comes from the Greek
(philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom‖.
 Contrary to the beliefs of many chiropractors,
philosophy is not synonymous with motivational
meetings or unsubstantiated dogma. Philosophy can
be divided into sub branches....
Definition of Philosophy...

9.  The main areas of study in philosophy
today include –
 Metaphysics,
 Epistemology,
 Politics,
 Ethics, and
 Aesthetics (Art)
Definition of Philosophy... (cont)

10.  ―Philosophy is a necessity for a rational
being: philosophy is the foundation of
science, the organizer of man’s mind, the
integrator of his knowledge, the
programmer of his subconscious, the
selector of his values‖.
Ayn Rand – Philosophy: Who needs it?
Definition of Philosophy...(cont)

11.  "As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that
you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you
define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined
process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation, or
let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of
unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined
contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified
wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but
integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel
philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-
doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's
wings should have grown."
Ayn Rand – Philosophy: Who
needs it?

12.  Important questions to consider?
◦ Is it necessary?
◦ Is it relevant?
◦ Is it Worthy of teaching in our schools?
Philosophy In Chiropractic...

13.  I am the originator, the Fountain Head ....
I created the art of adjusting vertebrae;
using the spinous and transverse
processes as levers, with the science, art
and philosophy—Chiropractic.
◦ DD thought it was Necessary enough that he
included it in his description of Chiropractic.
In the Words of DD Palmer - THE
CHIROPRACTOR’S ADJUSTER - Textbook of the
Science, Art and Philosophy of Chiropractic. 1910.

14.  Chiropractic without Philosophy isn’t
...Chiropractic.
 It is manipulation(art) of the Spine for
improved mobility to treat headaches,
neck and back pain (we have science to
prove that).
 How is this different from Manipulative
Physiotherapists? Osteopaths?
What is the relevance of
Philosophy to chiropractic?

15.  Forthose who believe that for
Chiropractic to progress it no
longer needs Philosophy...

16.  Who are you to change or
alter what chiropractic is?
◦ Can I change the law just because I don’t
agree with other peoples views?
◦ Or redefine physics because it doesn’t make
sense to me?
◦ Carving some stone away from the statue of
David makes it no longer the statue of David.
 Chiropractic is not yours to redefine.

17.  Maybe those wishing to remove
philosophy from our profession might like
to use the job description of - Musculo-
Skeletal Manipulative Therapists instead
of Chiropractor.
 Because by the definition of Chiropractic
including Philosophy... Without it, they are
not practicing chiropractic.

18. Philosophy is our Why? Maybe Simon Sinek
can better describe its importance with his
principle of the golden circle...

19.  The What in Chiropractic is the art!
 The How in Chiropractic is the Science!
 The WHY is the Philosophy!
 Inside to out... Could that represent
chiropractic any more?

20.  The Councils on Chiropractic Education
International (CCEI) requires the following: "The
program must comply with generally accepted
standards of professional ethics." Recall that
ethics is a branch of philosophy. Furthermore,
CCEI lists among the required competencies that
a chiropractic graduate ―Appreciates chiropractic
history and the unique paradigm of chiropractic
health care‖.(Philosophy)
Philosophy in Education?

21.  This document discusses philosophy and the basic
theories of chiropractic, noting: "The concepts and
principles that distinguish and differentiate the
philosophy of chiropractic from other health care
professions are of major significance to most
chiropractors and strongly influence their attitude and
approach towards health care.
 A majority of practitioners within the profession
would maintain that the philosophy of chiropractic
includes, but is not limited to, concepts of
holism, vitalism, naturalism, conservatism, critical
rationalism, humanism and ethics."
The World Health Organization (WHO) -
Guidelines for basic training and safety
in chiropractic.
World Health Organization. Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Chiropractic.

22.  ACC Paradigm states ―that the foundation of
chiropractic includes philosophy, science, art,
knowledge and clinical experience‖. -
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Chiropractic Paradigm.
http://www.chirocolleges.org/ paradigm_scope_practice.html
 It is my opinion that Philosophy is mandatory
in education, as it is in practice.
 Are you happy with your education on
chiropractic philosophy?
Philosophy in Education?

23.  Chiropractic is the science of locating
offending spinal structures, the art of
reducing their impact to the nervous
system, and a philosophy of natural
health care based on your inborn potential
to be healthy.
CAA supports ...Philosophy
http://www.caavic.asn.au/about-chiropractic

24.  COCA’s Mission
◦ COCA is a professional organisation that advocates
quality, safe and Ethical (Ethics) chiropractic and
osteopathic practice.
 COCA Stands For:
◦ Education – Evidence Based Ethical Practice – Research
(Epistimology) – Inter-professional Cooperation (Politics)
– Improved Community Health.
COCA supports... Philosophy
http://www.coca.com.au/about/what-is-coca/

25. "Only the chiropractic philosophy significantly
distinguishes the chiropractic practitioner. And yet the
philosophy is kept hidden away. It has done so in fear
of being labeled quackery, and this was undoubtedly
a good strategy to follow at one time. The public
knows next to nothing of [the] chiropractic philosophy
of healing and its mechanisms: If hospitals offer
spinal manipulation, a chiropractor offers nothing
else. This distortion of the chiropractic tradition can
only be overcome by a reevaluation of the place of
theory in chiropractic. ...Dispossessed of its
philosophy, chiropractic is dispossessed of its
uniqueness, and perhaps its future."
In 1980 Medical anthropologist
EA Morinis wrote -
Morinis EA. Theory and practice of chiropractic: An anthropological perspective. Journal of the
Canadian Chiropractic Association 1980;24(3):114-9