Resources

RESOURCES

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

  • Medicare & Medicaid   http://cms.gov     For individuals with Medicare, family members, and caregivers should visit this site fo rthe latests information on Medicare enrollement, benefits, and other helpful tools.
  • National Health Care Legislatives Sites   http://ChiroVoice.org    http://AdjustTheVote      Chiropractors, patients, students and all chiropractic supporters are encouraged to register on one or both sites to keep abreast of all national issues and alerts regarding important chiropractic issues.
  • Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)   http://hipaa.org   http://hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa     Naitonal Standards to Protect the Privacy of Personal Health Information.  Regulations and forms available on this site.
  • International Chiropractors Association  (ICA)     http://chiropractic.org
  • American Chiropractic Association   (ACA)      http://acatoday.com
  • Oklahaven Children’s Chiropractic Center   http://chiropractic4kids.com      Helping children with chiropractic care for 48 years.  Dedicated to the treatment and health of children.
  • Chiropractic Adjustment   http://chiropracticissafe.org    This site dispels the erroneous claims against the afety of the Chiropractic Adjustment.  Information comparing the risks of chiropractic care versus other forms of health care.

ORGANIZATIONS

  • Chiropractic Student Link     http://studentDC.com   Assists chiropractic students making the transition from student to practice easily and successfully.  On the site you’ll find articles to provide you with information to help you make decisions, from start to finish, through chiropractic school.
  • Association for the History of Chiropractic    http://historyofchiropractic.org   The AHC is an international association founded in 1980 to promote the scholarly recording of the profession’s history.  To fulfill its mission, the AHC publishes the journal Chiropractic History and books that are within its scope.
  • The Masters Circle     http://themasterscircle.com    The Masters Circle is a leadership coaching, practice building and personal development program for Doctors of Chirorpactic who are serious about achieving success.
  • ICA Council on Chiropractic Philosophy     http://chiropractic.org/councils

State Of Illinois

Illinois Department of Professional Regulations (IDFPR)  http://idfpr.com/DPR.asp

 

IDFPR issues licenses and regulates chiropractic in the state of Illinois.  Additional information can be found regarding: Licensure, Applications, Licensure renewal, Chiropractic Act, Rules & Regulations, Scope of Practice, Address Changes

Illinois State Government     http://illinois.gov

Official website for the State of Illinois.  Allows you to contact your state legislators and monitor current sate legislation.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission     http://state.il.us/agency/iic

No-fault system of benefits paid by employers to workers who experience job-related injuries or diseases.  The Commission operates the state court system for workers compensation cases.

Illinois Division of Nuclear Safety      http://state.il.us/iema/dns.asp

Responsible for protecting Illinois residents from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation.  Information and forms also available include: Laws & Regulations, Radiation Safety, Radiographic Technologists Information, Facility/Equipment Registration, Accreditation & Certification.

Illinois Division of Insurance      http://idfpr.com

This division is to protect consumers by providing assistance and information, by efficiently regulating the insurance industry’s market behavior and financial solvency, and by fostering a competitive insurance marketplace.  Information also available on this site includes: File a Compliant, Health Care Provider Information

Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition’s (IVAC)     http://vaccineawareness.org

The IVACs mission is to educate people on vaccine ingredients, contraindications, warnings, adverse reactions, studies, statistics, legality and personal testimony for informed vaccine choices.

Chiropractic Schools

Palmer College of Chiropractic      http://palmer.edu

Sherman College of Chiropractic      http://sherman.edu

Life University College of Chiropractic      http://life.edu

Logan College of Chiropractic     http://logan.edu

Parker College of Chiropractic     http://parkercc.edu

National University of Health Sciences     http://nuhs.edu

Western States Chiropractic College      http://wschiro.edu

Cleveland Chiropractic College      http://clevelandchiropractic.edu

Chiropractic Safety

A  study published in the scientific medical journal “Spine” notes the safety of chiropractic.  The article published in the October 2007 issue of the journal was titled, “Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine: A Prospective National Survey”.  The study was a prospective national survey designed to, “estimate the risk of serious and relatively minor adverse events following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine by a sample of U.K. chiropractors.”

The authors admitted that the risk of any serious side effects to chiropractic care was relatively  unknown to them and the medical community.  The chiropractic profession has long noted that the malpractice rates for the chiropractic profession at large, a possible indicator for injury for care, were considerably lower than any other medical health care providers.

This study looked at the outcomes from 19,722 chiropractic patients who had received some form or another of neck adjustments that they referred to as “chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine.” The researchers review a total of 50,276 neck adjustments and looked to see if there were any serious side effects from the chiropractic care.  They defined serious effects to be those that resulted in the need to be referred to a hospital, or that caused a worsening of symptoms immediately after treatment and/or resulted in persistent or significant disability or incapacity.

The results as quoted in the study were that, “There were no reports of serious adverse events.” Researchers did not find any serous adverse effects in any of the subjects they studied.  They also noted that this is the first medical study of its kind by stating, “Safety of treatment interventions is best established with prospective surveys, and this study is unique in that it is the only prospective survey on such a large scale specifically estimating serious adverse events following cervical spine manipulation.”   Researchers noted the safety advantage between chiropractic care by saying, “The risk rates described in this study compare favorable to those linked to drugs routinely prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions in general practice.”  They summed up their findings when they state, “On this basis, this survey provides evidence that cervical spine manipulation is a relatively safe procedure when administered by registered U.K. chiropractors.”

ARTICLES:

Safety of the Chiropractic Manipulation and Stroke

Spinal Manipulation: An Overview of Chiropractic Safety

Adjustments and the Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke

Chiropractic Adjustment Safe According To Scientific Review

Chiropractic is Safe-Know the Facts!

Debunking the Chiropractic Stroke Myth

Risk of Traumatic Injury Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Aged 66-99

Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care: Results of a Population-Based Case-Control and Case-Crossover Study

Vertebral Artery Strains During High-Speed, Low Amplitude Cervical Spinal Manipulation

CHIROPRACTIC BENEFITS:

5 Ways Athletes Benefit From Chiropractic Care

5 Common DIY Mistakes That Will Send You To The Chiropractor – And How To Avoid Them

How Chiropractors Can Help Arthritis Pain

Is it Safe To Visit A Chiropractor During Pregnancy?

Chiropractic Care For Whiplash

Can Chiropractic Care Reduce Stress?

 

Chiropractic Cost Effectiveness

SAVING MONEY

Chiropractic care is the largest drugless healing profession in the United States and the world.  It has offered the benefits of a conservative and natural method of healing without the use of drugs or surgery for over 100 years.  Chiropractic practitioners are licensed in all 50 states with recognition by the Federal Government in the Medicare, Medicaid and Workmen`s Compensation programs.  There are approximately 50,000 Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.`s) in the United States with 12.5 million citizens availing themselves of their care over the course of a year.

The basic premise of Chiropractic is that proper nerve supply is needed to regulate body function.  A disturbance of the nervous system may cause disease.  Derangement of the musculoskeletal structure (primary the spine) may disturb nerve function.  Thus, loss of normal alignment may result in nerve dysfunction causing not only back and neck pain but a wide variety of non-spinal disorders.  The Chiropractor adjusts (corrects) the spinal displacement, restoring proper nerve function, allowing 100% expression of health.

Both laboratory research and clinical assessment studies through the years find Chiropractic care to be both clinically effective and financially efficacious for care of numerous health concerns that can range from neck and lower back problems to individual body system functions.  An expanding number of individual case studies to beneficial effects of chiropractic care on many aspects of health and wellness.

FAQS

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your 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.

The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain.  The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots.  If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body, Doctors call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.  Verbebral, meaning the bones of the spine.  Subluxation, meaning consisting of more than one part.

Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and the philosophy of all things natural.

 What is Chiropractic Technique?

Chiropractic Technique is any method of analyzing and adjusting (manipulating) the spine and extremities taught through an accredited chiropractic college.

How Does Chiropractic Work?

Chiropractic works because you are a self-healing, self regulating organism controlled by your nervous system.  Millions of instructions flow from your brain, down the spinal cord and out to every organ and tissue.  Signals sent back to the brain confirm if your body is working right.  Improper motion or position of the moving bones of the spine called a subluxation can interfere with this vital exchange by irritating nerves and compromising the function of affected organs and tissues.  Specific spinal adjustments can help improve mind/body communications.  Health often returns with improved nervous system control of the body.

Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?

Yes, A New Zealand government study found that adjustments are “remarkably safe.”  By avoiding drugs and risky surgery, chiropractic care enjoys an excellent track record.  A thorough exam can identify the rare person for whom chiropractic care might be unsuited.

Compare the statistics.  Adjustments are about 100 times safer than taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.

How Do You Get Sublxations?

There are three basic causes of subluxations.  Physical causes could include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions and improper lifting.  Emotions such as grief, anger and fear can cause subluxations.    Chemical causes could include alcohol, drugs, pollution and poor diet.

How Do I Know If I have a Subluxation?

You can have subluxations and not even know it.  Like the early stages of tooth decay or cancer, subluxations can be present before warning signs appear.  The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of subluxations you may have.

What’s An Adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments usually involve a quick thrust that helps add motion to spinal joints that aren’t moving right.  Some methods use the doctor’s hands an insturment, a special table or the force of gravity.  There are many ways to adjust the spine.

What Makes the Sound During the Adjustment?

Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint.  Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift.  It’s much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup.  The sound is interesting, but it isn’t a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment.

What Type of Education Do Chiropractic Doctors Get?

Doctors of Chiropractic are well educated.  The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques, and related subjects.  This demanding ciurriculum prepares chiropractic doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct the resulting nervous system dysfunction.

To graduate with the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, each candidate passed the demanding National Board Examination.  Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice.

A chiropractic education never ends.  Most doctors complete postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest scientific research.

Do I Have a Slipped Disc?

The disc is a soft pulpy “shock absorber.”  It has a fibrous outer ring which holds in a jell-like material.  A “slipped disc” is a common way to refer to a wide variety of disc problems.  However, a disc can’t slip because of the way it attatches to the spinal bones above and below it.  A disc can bulge.  It can tear.  It can herniate.  It can thin.  It can dry out.  And it can collapse.  But it can’t slip.

Do I Have A Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve is rare.  It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone irritates, stretches, rubs or chafes a nerve.  These subluxations distort the nerve messages sent between the brain and the body.  This can produce unhealthy alteration to the organs and tissues connected by the affected nerves.

Are All Patients Adjusted the Same Way?

No.  Each patients spine and care plan is unique.  With 24 moving bones in the spine, each of which can move in seven different directions, we see a wide variety of spinal patterns.  Each patients care is custom-tailored for their age, condition and health goals.

Can I Adjust Myself?

No.  Some people can make their joints “pop”, but that’s not an adjustment!  Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments.  Adjustments are specific and take years to master.  Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.

How Many Adjustments Will I Need?

The number of adjustments varies with each patient and their individual health goals.  Many patients sense progress within a week or two of frequent visits.  Visits become less often as your spine stabalizes.  In chronic cases, complete healing can take months or even years.

Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?

Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.  Learning to walk, ride a bicycle, and other childhood activities can cause spinal problems.  Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as “growing pains” can often be traced to the spine.  Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen late in adults.  Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child’s spine.  Most parents report that their children enjoy their adjustments and seem healthier than other children.

Why Do Newborns Get Adjustments?

Even today’s “natural” childbirth methods can affect an infant’s spine.  Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress.  Pediatric adjustments are gentle.  Knowing exactly where to adjust, the doctor applies no more pressure than you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato.

Am I Too Old for Chiropractic Care?

With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity.  Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite.  Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process.  The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.  As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic care becomes more and more obvious.

Can Subluxations Clear Up on Their Own?

Sometimes.  Today’s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations.  Our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night.  When subluxations don’t resolve, you need to see a chiropractor!

Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?

Yes.  Rest assured that your chiropractor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine.  Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level.  These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care.

Can Patients with Osteoporosis Get Chiropractic Care?

Of course.  When developing a care plan, your chiropractor considers the unique circumstances of each patient.  There are many ways to adjust the spine.  The method selected will be best suited to your age, size and condition.

How Long Until I’ll Feel Better?

Some patients experience almost instant relief.  Others discover it can take many weeks or months.  Many factors can affect the healing process.  How long have you had the problem?  Are you keeping your appointments?  Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition?  Do you smoke?  Are you in otherwise good condition?  Within a short period of time, most patients sense enough progress to fully carry out their doctor’s recommendations.

How Long Will I Need Chiropracti Care?

After patients get te relief they want, many choose to continue with some type of periodic care.  These patients show up for their visits feeling great.  These visits can help support the final stages of healing and help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious.  A chiropractors job is to offer the very best care and your job is to decide how much of it you want.

What If Chiropractic Doesn’t Work?

If a chiropractor is unable to find and correct the cause of your partricular health problem, they will refer you to other specialists who may be able to help.  You health is their primary goal.

IPSCA RADIOGRAPHIC STANDARDS

ILLINOIS PRAIRIE STATE CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION  

 

RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION STANDARDS AND INDICATIONS  

The use of X-ray or radiographic examination by a chiropractor is primarily for spinography. Spinography is the  chiropractic art of analyzing X-rays for the following purposes:  

  1. Finding potential subluxations.  
  2. Understanding the anatomy to give the most appropriate adjustment.  
  3. Developing the most appropriate plan of care for the patient.  

Position Statement  

Radiography of a patient should only be performed on the basis of clinical need as judged by the  attending Doctor of Chiropractic. The following are standards for ordering radiographic studies.  These criteria are offered to assist in making this determination on a rational basis.  

  1. Standards for Radiographic Examinations.  

A radiographic examination is performed to help confirm or deny clinically suspected  mechanical alterations, including radiographic manifestations of a subluxation, abnormalities,  pathological conditions, and/or establishing a baseline standard for future radiographic  comparison where indicated.  

 The radiographic examination should be based on findings from the:    

  1. Case History and/or Physical Assessment  

 The following are examples which may indicate radiologic procedures. They are   not all inclusive:  

  1. Possible subluxation including:  

 apparent structural disrelationship of spinal or extra-spinal components;   apparent curvature of the spine;  

 spinal muscular imbalance;  

 spinal motion aberrations (hyper/hypo);  

 positive neuromusculoskeletal findings;  

 thermographic findings  

  1. Regional points of pain.  
  2. Signs of visceral malfunction or distress.  
  3. Significant laboratory findings. 

 Abnormal values in laboratory tests that might indicate disease, e.g., alkaline   phosphatase, serum calcium, or phosphorus levels.  

NOTE: Choosing an examination that will give maximum information at the lowest dose of  radiation to the patient is of preeminent importance and should be based on the following:  

  1. Does the patient have a health problem requiring a radiographic examination?  

2 Will the examination increase information about the patient and be consistent with the  patient’s health problem?  

  1. Will the examination result in alteration of patient management and/or disease  outcome?  
  2. Could the iatrogenic hazard outweigh the benefits of the procedure?  
  3. Could another examination/imaging procedure be warranted?  
  4. Selection of appropriate radiographic studies in Chiropractic practice.  
  5. A minimum of two opposing views of a body part, generally 90 degrees to each other,  constitutes the usual minimum for radiographic study.  
  6. All radiographic procedures should be accomplished with appropriate gonadal shielding  and compensating filters, except in those situations where filtration or shielding might  interfere with examination of the anatomical region of interest.  
  7. Special Considerations.  
  8. Progress re-evaluation.  

Repeat radiographic examination of the patient should not be routinely performed  without significant observable clinical indications, as determined by the attending Doctor  of Chiropractic.  

  1. The Female Patient  

When the possibility of pregnancy exists, females with reproductive potential should only  be radiographed during the first ten days following the onset of menses.  

  1. The Pregnant Patient  

  

Irradiation of a pregnant patient, regardless of the trimester, is discouraged. If clinical  indications warrant, areas may be studied that are outside the pelvis, proximal femora, 

thoracic and lumbar spine. These studies may be carried out with tight collimation and a  full lead apron worn by the patient. The need for the examination and the possible health  hazards must be fully explained to the patient. An informed consent document, signed by  the patient, should be included in the patient’s records.  

  1. The Pediatric Patient  

Clinical indications for the radiographic examination of the child follow similar criteria as  for the adult. The study should occur as a result of appropriate clinical history and  examination. As a result, X-rays might be taken to help confirm or deny the presence of a  clinically suspected anomaly, pathology or structural alteration including radiographic  manifestations of a subluxation important to case management.  

References: 

  1. Practicing Chiropractors Committee on Radiological Protocols. (2006). Guidelines.  Accessed at http://www.pccrp.org/
  2. International Chiropractors Association. (2008). Best practices and practice guidelines.  Accessed at http://www.chiropractic.org/Files/7-Chapter%206.pdf
  3. Kent C. (2017 Aug 31). An evidence-informed approach to spinal radiography in vertebral subluxation centered chiropractic practice. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research:142-146. 
  4. Siegel JA, Pennington CW, Sacks B. (2017 Jan). Subjecting radiologic imaging to the  linear no-threshold hypothesis: a non sequitur of non-trivial proportion. Journal of  Nuclear Medicine, 58(1):1–6.  
  5. Bess S. (2016 Feb). The health impact of symptomatic adult spinal deformity: comparison of deformity types to United States population norms and chronic diseases. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26571174 
  6. Habibi Z, Maleki F, et al. (2014 Dec). Lumbosacral sagittal alignment in association to intervertebral disc diseases. Asian Spine Journal. Accessed at

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25558325 

  1. Rudy IS, Poulos A, et al. (2015 Feb 9). The correlation of radiographic findings and patient symptomatology in cervical degenerative joint disease: a cross-sectional study. Chiropractic Manipulative Therapeutics. Accessed at  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25671078 

  1. Beck RW, Holt KR, et al. (2005). Radiographic anomalies that may alter chiropractic intervention strategies found in a New Zealand population. J Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, 27(9):554-559. 
  2. Paik NC, Lim CS, Jang HS. (2013). Numeric and morphological verification of lumbosacral segments in 8280 consecutive patients, Spine, 38(10):E573–E578.
  3. Murphy S. (2012 Dec 5). Erect radiographs to assess clinical instability in patients with blunt cervical spine trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 94(23):e1741-4. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.K.01502.  
  4. Radiologic evaluation of chronic neck pain. American Family Physician October 15, 2010; Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 959-964
  5. Kuhta P, Hart J, Green-Orndorff L, McDowell-Reizer B, Rush P. (2010). The prevalence  of ponticulus ponticus: retrospective analysis of radiographs from a chiropractic health  center. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 9: 162-165.  
  6. Ross J, Bereznick DE, McGill SM. (1999 June 15). Atlas–axis facet asymmetry:  implications in manual palpation. Spine, 24(12):1203-1209.  
  7. Ji-Hong F. (2010 Feb). Variable morphology of the axis vertebrae in 100 specimens:  implications for clinical palpation and diagnostic imaging. Journal of Manipulative and  Physiological Therapeutics, 33(2):125-31.  
  8. Young, Kenneth & Aziz, A. (2009). An accounting of pathology visible on lumbar spine  radiographs of patients attending private chiropractic clinics in the United Kingdom.  Chiropractic J of Australia, 39: 63-9.  
  9. McLean, Ian D. (2009 Nov). Palmer College of Chiropractic Clinical Radiology  Department Policy and Procedures.  
  10. Palmer College of Chiropractic, Technique Department. (1977). Definition of  Spinography.  

Approved by the  

IPSCA Board of Directors  

April 11, 2018 

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