A subluxation refers to a condition where there is nervous system interference, which can be caused by structural misalignments or disc issues that irritate spinal nerves. This interference is detrimental as it prevents optimal communication between cells. Chiropractors are trained to analyze, detect, and reduce subluxations through manual adjustments to alleviate this interference and promote health. However, chiropractic has faced issues regarding public perception due to a boycott by the American Medical Association in the past. To improve perception, chiropractors need to address misconceptions, get involved in their communities, and demonstrate how their approach to natural healthcare aligns with individual health values.

3.  What is a subluxation?
 The chiropractic profession coined the term
subluxation to describe a condition of the
body which is detrimental and destructive to
life and all processes of the body relating to
life. Literally, it means less than a luxation or
dislocation according to the medical
dictionary.
 According to chiropractic, it means less light;
referring to the light of the body as the life
force powering all functions of the body.
 There is a concept in human physiology that
describes the mental impulse as the
involuntary life force in the body, directing all
of the chemical reactions at a cellular level.
Keep in mind the body is made of trillions of
cells.

4.  All of these cells are in constant communication with
each other, at all times, to ensure the vitality of the
body. This fundamental philosophy of chiropractic
discusses this inborn intelligence of the body that
carries out complicated functions simultaneously and
automatically.
 It has been proven by science that cells communicate
via the central nervous system, which includes the
brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord is an
extension of the brain and all the nerves of the body
are an extension of that core system. The core of our
being is so important that we are born with armor to
protect it, bone. Therefore the segments of the spine
are contacted during the adjustment to make sure the
body is not adding further stress to its most vital
system, the nervous system.

5.  Chiropractors deal with patients who have any form
of nervous system interference. Whether, it is
classified as a structural misalignment, or chemical
as seen with a bulged disc that irritates the exiting
spinal nerve. This condition of nervous system
interference is referred to as vertebral subluxation.
When someone is subluxated, certain cells of their
body will no longer be able to effectively
communicate causing dysfunction. For example,
someone who has trouble going to the bathroom,
may be a result of chronic subluxation which
detrimentally effects the nerve supply of the
bladder. Because subluxation is the cause of
degeneration in the spine, it opens up the
possibility for many health issues, aside from
causing pain.
 A chiropractor is trained in analyzing, detecting,
and reducing subluxations. The way chiropractors
reduce subluxations is through adjustments, which
are specific manual thrusts performed on the
patient. Chiropractors often use their hands, but
some techniques require hand held instruments,
which duplicate a similar force to a hands on
technique. Therefore, there are many options
available depending on your personal preference
and the technique the chiropractor utilizes in their
practice.
 There may be many chiropractors in your
community, so it is recommended to ask them
questions and share any concerns you may have
so they can best accommodate your family.

6.  Just as chiropractors investigate the root cause of dysfunction
and dis-ease in the body by checking for subluxation,
chiropractors need to investigate the cause of the negative
connotations associated with our profession
 The AMA boycott needs to be kept in the past, but there needs
to be accountability for the effects that continue to present
issues in patients trying to find the proper portal of entry
providers when they are dealing with a health concern.
 Chiropractors must acknowledge and utilize all resources
available to them and learn from other professional responses to
boycotts. Essentially, we must learn from successful
predecessors and apply similar techniques to manage the
current situation the profession is in.

7.  "His premise was that to win the confidence of the public for the chiropractic
profession, the chiropractor needed to do and be what the public expected.
They had to be a part of the community. The public expected a doctor to have
a professional attitude. Chiropractors had to "act the part". Simply advertising
the value of the profession for specific conditions was not the way to achieve
acceptance. Being involved with issues that the public cared about could be
the pivot point. That is, becoming involved in one's community, e.g. talking and
writing about personal and community needs, not just the parochial needs and
wants of the chiropractor.“2
 According to the Journal of Chiropractic History, Saunders was hired to
complete a national survey to determine the decline in chiropractors’ cultural
authority. Mysteriously, the project was shut down by “someone with the
authority to do so in the profession”. 2
 It was eight-teen years later that a new chiropractic organization presented a
near duplicate proposal to the Saunders report before the American
Chiropractors Association (ACA) and the International Chiropractic Association
(ICA). The ACA developed a relationship with Mr. Davis, the owner of a private
advertising agency who promoted health awareness and the stature of the
Chiropractic profession as dedicated health care professionals.2

8.  According to “Walter I. Wardell (who) began researching
chiropractic history in the 1950s at Harvard University, the AMA
influenced many popular magazines.”3 In fact, “From 1924 to
1949, Morris Fishbein used his position as the editor of the
American Medical Association Journal, to attempt to weaken the
chiropractic profession through the news media.
 In a 1946 Hygeia article reprinted in The Reader's Digest,
Maisel compared chiropractic professionals to "voodoo cultists".
A September 1975 Consumer's Report article warned people
not to go to chiropractors because they posed a significant
hazard to patients.3
 “American Medical Association Committee on Quackery
chairperson Joseph Sabatier said in a 1961 Journal of American
Medical Association editorial that the only way to protect the
public from chiropractors was through public exposure.”3

9.  The ethical aspect of the Dr-Patient relationship has been compromised by the
professional boycott of the AMA.4 It is quite possible that ignorant members of
society prolong and contribute to the boycott because of their falsely acquired
perception and their refusal to try chiropractic care until it is their last resort.
 If chiropractic care is in the best interest of the patient and a medical
professional refuses to refer the patient for care, they are committing an ethical
transgression and a disservice to their patient.5
 Crowe and Bewley discuss abuse of the doctor patient relationship.6 The
doctor holds an incredible position of power within their relationship with the
patient. Therefore, the doctor has a major responsibility to provide the best
care for their patient and if necessary refer for additional clinical services.
 In fact, this relationship is so powerful, it can directly affect the individual
psyche of the patient. As discussed in the mental health study by the
Psychological Thought Journal-Greece and Bolivia. The study concludes that
symptoms, specifically depression are vicariously expressed and clinically
manifested by a young woman, whose mother was dissatisfied with the doctor
patient relationship.7

10.  A study in Israel depicts the patient’s perspective of the doctor
patient relationship as it pertains to women who suffer with a
potentially fatal condition and have many encounters with their
doctor.
 "Despite the fact that the disease requires difficult treatments, it
was discovered that the problems in doctor patient
communication cause almost as much suffering as that
caused by the cancer itself. Patients were satisfied with their
physical treatment but their need for emotional support and
attention was not addressed. These researchers also claimed
that the paradigm differences between patients and doctors
increased their suffering.“8
 "Kreitler et al. [2007] found a link between medical and
psychological variables and the outcomes of recurrence, non-
recurrence, and death from breast cancer 3-5 years after the
diagnosis.“8

11.  One of the most commonly addressed issues that portrays
the clear distinction between these two entities (Medicine
and Chiropractic) and their approach in health care is,
vaccination.
 Many chiropractor have experienced life without
vaccination and are open to discussing your options
related to this heavily debated issue.
 A Canadian study states; "Both patients and chiropractors
initiate discussions on immunization in practice, with many
chiropractors using indirect stimuli to open the topic.
Doctors of chiropractic in this particular sample were
heterogeneous with respect to the information provided to
patients. However, study findings may not be
generalizable outside Canada.“9

12.  An article on the American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
website states:
"Angie's list data say that DC's are leading the way when it
comes to patient-reported customer-service metrics.
Chiropractic care is in the top five most frequently.”10
 “DC's consistently score better than any other medical
specialists on almost all of these patient-experience
metrics.“10
 Reality television creates an opportunity for celebrities who
value chiropractic care to share their experience, since
their lives are broadcasted on national television and they
are followed by individuals all over the world through social
media

13.  Chiropractors need to address the paradigm contrast
between the two models of health care and embrace it,
while encouraging the public to remain open minded.
Chiropractors need to explain to potential patients that
they have the power to take control of their own health.
 The next step requires chiropractors to demonstrate
through public education how individual health values align
with the natural paradigm associated with chiropractic
care.
 Once a basic understanding is established, families will be
able to choose which chiropractor in their community is
best to begin a conservative, non-invasive, and proactive
approach to managing their health.

14.  Community recreational centers have been shown to have a positive impact on struggling
neighborhoods, while promoting inner city growth and public health. Therefore, my solution to
reverse the decades of ignorance and misinformation acquired by society, is to change the
community from the inside out and lead by example.
 Patients who stay consistent with chiropractic care do so because they truly have a basic and
fundamental understanding of the philosophy.
 As discussed in chiropractic philosophy, the achievement of optimized individual health can be
accomplished by consistent chiropractic care, which ensures that all systems of your body work
in harmony with each other. Supplementing care with proactive lifestyle choices, like a healthy
diet and daily exercise only improve your body’s ability to function optimally.
 Chiropractors are portal of entry health care providers. Therefore, you do not need to be
referred to a chiropractor to initiate care.
 If you or a family member has a health issue that has not resolved, consider seeking the advice
of a chiropractor.

15.  Sponsorship and health care have been intertwined since
they have become an industrial standard. There has been
evidence of changes in health care systems; directly
relating to growing needs of the community and
fluctuations in demographic changes, societal demands,
and chronic diseases.11
 Corporate funding will be required to make a significant
impact on the distorted image of the chiropractor and
improve the public perception of the profession.
Additionally, public education on a national scale requires
sponsorship to meet the needs and expectations of the
consumer.12

16.  In conclusion, the public’s perception has been poisoned as
a result of an abundance of misinformation and propaganda.
This is a global issue due to the ethical dilemma the AMA
created years ago, that continues to affect the public today
through media and other communication outlets, who
continue to promulgate a false message regarding an
excellent health service.
 Many people initiate care with their medical doctor and if
they don’t get the results they wanted, they begin looking for
other options. Chiropractic is usually the last alternative on
the list. Therefore, I would like to make it public common
knowledge that chiropractors are readily available portal of
entry providers, who took the same Hippocratic Oath upon
graduation. Neither is wrong nor right, it is the approach that
differentiates the two. Depending on the condition, certain
providers are better than others.
 It is up to me to take action and reinstate the ideals of the
Saunders Report, complete the national survey and initiate
the public education movement, based on their expectations
 I will establish professional relationships with sponsors, and
mass communication executives to establish a cultural
authority for chiropractors and to help as many people as
possible, for generations to come.

17.  1. http://ifcochiro.org/
 2. Hug, P. (2011). Maturity in the Chiropractic Media From Advertising to Public Education. Chiropractic History,
31(2), 10-19.
 3. Carpenter, S. (2008). Licensing rights, Medicare and quackery: how the New York Times portrayed
chiropractic from 1960 to 1975. Chiropractic History, 28(1), 95-105.
 4. Lawrence, D. (2010). Wilk v. American medical association, 895 f.2d 352 (7th cir. 1990): the battle is not yet
won. Chiropractic History, 30(2), 41-47.
 5. Gilmore, D. A. (1988). The Antitrust Implications of Boycotts by Health Care Professionals: Professional
Standards, Professional Ethics, and The First Amendment. American Journal of Law and Medicine, 14221.
 6. Crowe, M., Bewley, S., & Subotsky, F. (2010). Abuse Of The Doctor-patient Relationship. London: Royal
College of Psychiatrists.
 7. Giannouli, V., & Stoyanova, S. (2014). Does Depressive Symptomatology Influence Teenage Patients and
Their Mothers' Experience of Doctor-Patient Relationship in Two Balkan Countries? (English). Psychological
Thought, 7(1), 19-27. doi:10.5964/psyct.v7i1.86
 8. Kuzari, D. D., Biderman, A. A., & Cwikel, J. J. (2013). Attitudes of women with breast cancer regarding the
doctor-patient relationship. European Journal Of Cancer Care, 22(5), 589-596.
 9. Page, S., Russell, M., Verhoef, M., & Injeyan, H. (2006). Immunization and the chiropractor-patient interaction:
a Western Canadian study. Journal Of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 29(2), 156-161.
 10. Laux, R. (2013). Angle's List: DCs Score High Patient Satisfaction. ACA News (American Chiropractic
Association), 9(8), 33.
 11. Bagdonas, E., Jovarauskiene, D., & Kazlauskiene, V. (2012). The Sponsorship of Health Care System in the
United States and France: Alternatives to Lithuania. Social Sciences (1392-0758), 75(1), 66-82.
 12. Bloom, P. N., & Silver, M. J. (1976). Consumer education: marketers take heed. Harvard Business Review,
54(1), 32-150.