#13: Chiropractic Subluxations

Summary This episode explores the concept of subluxation philosophy and routine chiropractic adjustments, which are heavily debated within the chiropractic community. The traditional belief that spinal misalignments cause disease is not supported by current scientific evidence. Chiropractors struggle to reliably identify subluxations, and there is no strong evidence to support the effectiveness of routine chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractors could play a role in healthcare by taking thorough health histories, performing effective physical exams, and providing patient-centered care. The use of consensus and subjective assessments in chiropractic practice raises concerns about informed consent and patient dependency. Chapters00:00 The Benefits and Limitations of Chiropractic Adjustments 01:37 The Importance of Physical Activity, Strength Training, and Cardio 02:14 The Role of Nutrition, Sleep, and Mental Health in Pain Management 02:41 Chiropractic: Beyond Adjustments 02:50 Misleading Terminology in Chiropractic 02:51 Chiropractic Subluxation Theory 03:48 Routine Spinal Adjustments and Organ Health 04:03 The Role of Scientific Evidence in Understanding the Human Body 04:33 The Importance of Keeping an Open Mind 04:46 Issues with the Chiropractic Philosophy of Spinal Misalignment 05:21 The False Sense of Dependency Created by the Belief in Realignment 05:49 The Potential Medical Emergency of Spinal Instability 06:02 The Poor Correlation Between Imaging Findings and Pain 06:31 Misalignments on X-rays: Not Always Indicative of a Problem 06:59 The Design of the Spine: Twist and Tilt with Stability 07:29 The Value of Imaging for Medical Interventions 07:54 When Imaging May Not Be Necessary 08:02 The Relevance of Spinal Misalignment 08:30 Differentiating Structural Problems 08:38 Differing Opinions on Spinal Dysfunction 09:07 The Lack of Evidence for Chiropractic Subluxations 09:31 The Definition of Chiropractic Subluxation 09:58 Abandoning the Bone Out of Place Narrative 10:27 Potential Changes to the Model 10:53 The Challenge of Reliably Identifying Subluxations 11:48 Methods Used to Locate Subluxations 13:46 The Reliability Issue with Chiropractic Assessments 14:44 Questioning the Effectiveness of Subluxation-Based Chiropractic 16:42 The Dilemma of Maintenance Chiropractic Adjustments 17:48 Understanding Chiropractic Subluxations 18:48 Reliability of Clinical Tests for Subluxation Location 19:46 Lack of Reliable Tests for Subluxation Existence and Clearance 20:05 The Assumptions in the Process of Subluxation Adjustment 20:22 The Role of Scientific Evidence in Chiropractic Adjustments 21:05 Effectiveness of Chiropractic Adjustments for Low Back Pain 21:51 Lack of Research on Chiropractic Maintenance Care 22:19 Chiropractic Adjustments for Headaches Related to Neck Pain 23:17 Questioning the Concept of Subluxation 23:19 Understanding Chiropractic 23:49 Comprehensive Approach 24:27 Challenges with Chiropractic Adjustments 24:40 The Impact of Chiropractic Adjustments on Clinical Outcomes 24:57 Reducing Opioid Use with Chiropractic Care 25:26 The Need for Further Research in Chiropractic Care 25:28 Addressing Patient Concerns and Ruling Out Scary Things 26:50 Considering Factors Influencing Pain and Treatment Options 27:40 Explaining Prognosis and Setting Realistic Expectations 28:31 Teaching Patients to Not Need Chiropractors 28:45 Different Approaches in Chiropractic Clinics 29:07 The Need for Informed Consent and Transparency 31:03 Avoiding Unsupported Claims and Adjusting the Narrative 31:48 The Role of Research in Chiropractic 33:03 Addressing Negative Stereotypes in Chiropractic 33:22 The Founders' Vision for Change 33:49 Romanticizing the Past References PMID 25430861 PMID 17137836 PMID 18328937 PMID 20534312 PMID 25579661 PMID 32142140 Palmer College of Chiropractic Continuing Education - Care Plans, Maintenance Care, and the Reliability of Methods for Detecting Subluxations Palmer College of Chiropractic Continuing Education - 6 Myths About Back Pain Key Facts and Figures About the Chiropractic Profession (American Chiropractic Association) Everything you need to know about chiropractic (Medical News Today) MCL - 333.16401 Definitions; scope; principles of construction PMID 19954544 The International Chiropractic Education Collaboration 2014 Position Statement (Clinical and Professional Chiropractic Education PMID 27366317 PMID 21245790 PMID 32756930 PMID 33720272 PMID 33947735 Where to find Chris Netley: ChrisNetley.com BuildBeyondHealth.com Instagram: @chrisnetleyDC  YouTube: @chrisnetleyDC X (formerly Twitter): @chrisnetleyDC  Facebook: Chris Netley, DC Music: Pixel Swing Musician: Moscillate Site: https://icons8.com/music