Evidence Based Chiropractic

My last post was a bit dramatic. I know. Sorry. I get a little "in to it" when I think about this path leading to the inevitable DC degree in under 2 years. I see things I don't like in the profession and want it to change. Then I look up at the clock and it's like 2 in the fricken morning and I have wasted a good 4 hours pondering and writing about these concepts. What can I say, I guess I like our program after all and want the profession to head into a bright future. Most students seem to care less about this stuff which is bothersome. Some care a lot and the balance is found between the two. If you can call it that. It is like this in the "real world" where some DC's participate in political action and foster change and others sit around on their thumbs caring only about themselves.

I guess I could be convinced that my actions thus far have been merely rhetorical. I haven't joined SACA (Student American Chiropractic Association) or participated in any real effort to change the face of chiropractic. There are reasons for this. One biggy is I am big critic of chiropractic. Although, I am one. Weird, I know. I suppose I am not ready to "get on board" with things yet because I remain unconvinced that I can really change anything. I also view student organizations as social clubs where productivity is sacrificed. That is probably not cool to say but that's how I see it. We can sit around bickering about what we should do or what we are all about till the cats come home and until someone takes a giant leap forward away from the bullshit, nothing will change. At least from my current non-enrollment, I can have a say without getting swamped by the same ol' chatter. I would consider joining a student organization if it was some kind of think-tank that generates ideas for non-cheesy chiropractic marketing.

My hunch is things will slowly change for the better. We'll likely unify ourselves and march forward like other professions have done. By becoming fluent in evidence based chiropractic, we'll be able to get there quicker. As budding doctors of chiropractic, we'll likely put things on the back burner because of time constraints or lack of motivation and that is expected. EBC is not one of those things though. Knowing how to extract the latest and greatest research is so damn important as future doctors. This is what people expect in us. When they come knocking on our doors, they literally expect the best care and assume we are up on the literature. It is my opinion that we owe this to them as "professionals" no matter how big a pain it is to learn how to do. Sure, there will be some who simplify things and carry only a hammer to "every" patient problem. It is easier that way, right? I wonder why that might be? To have the world defined for you must feel nice and comfortable. Like a big blanket that mommy tucked you in with. Sleepy, so sleepy... Anyway, as you can see, I think there are some who fall into this category of "laziness" in our profession who migrate toward the big bright light with shining dollars signs. Buying into a technique system rather than using your skills in EBP is selfish, unethical and substandard to be qualified as a "doctor". Yep, I said it again. Ouch!

Out of any of the courses we are taking right now, EBP is ranked #1 or #2 on my list. Adjusting skills is a biggy and physical diagnosis is too. EBP is hard to learn with all the statistical rules and antics but it gives you logical solutions you can trust. Clinical judgement is not just formed out of the blue or by buying into some dude's technique. Learning ways to become fluent in finding answers is a skill we can't take for granted. Our future patients expect it and we really do owe it to them. With that, many of the technique systems offer a way to "find" the subluxation. Use my method and you'll find it every time and create referrals. Whatever! How about this, learn more hands-on skills so you can decipher between tissue variability. Or using range of motion, proprioceptive stretching or movement analysis.

If we jump into the world of kinesiology (not applied kinesiology) and exercise science, the answers are there. PT's have done this and use these science-based paradigms to help their patients. Why do you think mainstream medicine supports them?

WSCC recently added the Masters in Exercise and Sports Science and that was a VERY smart move on their part. Integrating such training into the DC program will help us be scientific practitioners and quite possibly push us away from the tempting technique systems being marketed to student doctors.

All for now