Website Practice Article – October 2008

Dynamic Chiropractic Concepts and Principles – Review Part I


The first one hundred years of Chiropractic, has been a transition from purely faith-
based practitioners, to scientifically educated doctors, who are very aware of the
pathologies of disease. The dilemma that has developed is that the doctor still has to
have faith, confidence and belief in what he or she is doing, to be a busy healer. Rather
than resolve the conflict, some choose to believe the old subluxation model and follow a
classic system. Others chose to become comfortable in a sea of relativity.

I developed the heuristic model of the subluxation complex and learned as much as I
could about the scientific and rational evidence of holistic, vitalistic healing as it related
to the licensed practice of Chiropractic.

The goal for each of us is to become confident in our knowledge of the subluxation
complex and to possess the necessary adjusting skills to feel truly professional. This
confidence and knowledge, allows an honest line of communication to develop between
the doctor and the patient, which creates the bond necessary to promote healing and
exited patients that refer others.

Whether you are a predominately right-brained, faith-based doctor or a predominately
left-brained, science-based doctor; mimicking and practicing is essential for mastering
the hundreds of spinal and extremity adjustments. At this stage of our rational
development, the outcome of applying these procedures is a leap of faith, for all of us.

For this reason, each of us must know that we know; when, where, why, how and how
often, we need to adjust our patients. If you can believe in a system, these questions
are answered for you and practice is made simple. If you are more like I am, then I
suggest you become comfortable with all the relative facts of the matter at hand and
enjoy the journey. Learning will become your professional way of life. Patients will
respect and refer you because of your knowledge, adjusting skills, and the healing
experiences that occur. There are obviously two ways to get to the same place.

Think about it! The worse place for a chiropractor to be is between the two stools.
Neither full of the belief that removing “subluxations”, “works”: nor fully confident and
comfortable wallowing in a sea of relative facts and procedures. The contents of this
course has helped thousands of left-brained, chiropractors get enthusiastic and
dedicated to vitalistic, holistic healing and working to further the scientific and rational
development of our profession. Many have developed very successful and prestigious
practices, and a few have made research their priority in life, as there are still more
questions than answers.





Our EMPHASIS will be on the clinical application of the techniques and the diagnostic
work-ups. How much time you spend on the literature base will be up to you. Clinical
results are very dependent on patient compliance. Patient compliance is best when the
doctor and the patient have the same concept of the condition being treated or of
prevention.


THE SUBLUXATION COMPLEX

The Subluxation Complex is a heuristic model described by me in 1967, to organize and
co-relate clinical procedures, the basic sciences and research. Getting comfortable with
not correcting a “subluxation” is very difficult for Chiropractors old and new. Becoming
professionally knowledgeable with the components of the “Subluxation Complex” is the
task at hand and in my opinion the reason we need to remain autonomous from M.D.s
and P.T.s.

Each of these categories is a huge field of study. As a general practitioner we can only
hope to familiarize ourselves with the relevant information, except for the spinal and
extremity adjusting, where we are the experts. If we fail to maintain our skills, we must
expect others to take our place.

I dread the thought of our neophytes trading these skills , for a hand held or mounted,
mechanical device. Some report over thirty-five percent have already given up on
learning to adjust expertly. To me this is like thirty-five percent of dentists not being
capable of filling a tooth cavity.

To look into the “subluxation complex” concept I suggest you start reading one hour a
day. In three or four months you will see the difference in the way you advise your
patients on their treatment schedules for acute and chronic conditions.

Reading References:
1) www.ChiropracticMentor.com: L.J. Faye, D.C. - Videos, practice articles.
2) Motion Palpation and Chiropractic Technique: Schafer and Faye, pub MPI.
3) Foundations of Chiropractic, Subluxation: Meridel I. Gatterman, pub Mosby.
4) Chiropractic Technique: Bergmann, Peterson, Lawrence, pub Churchill Lvgst.
5) Review of the literature supporting a scientific basis for the Chiropractic Subluxation
Complex. Dishman R.W , J.M.P.T. 1985; 8:163-74.
6) Foundations of Chiropractic - Lantz C.A. has an updated the model with many
articles. He is an author of a chapter in this book.
7) Mechanically Assisted Manual Techniques: Distraction Procedures. Bergmann and
Davis, pub Mosby.

From the above references the heuristic model of subluxation complex should be fully
comprehended and your interests should be identified for future study.


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