BLOG – Page 2 – Chiropractic Resource Organization

ACA, ABCA, SCU Announce 2026 Collaborative Student Leadership Conference

By Frank M. Painter|December 10, 2025|Uncategorized|

ACA, ABCA, SCU Announce 2026 Collaborative Student Leadership Conference

SOURCE: ACA ~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 10, 2025

Annette Bernat
abernat@acatoday.org
(703) 812-0226

Arlington, Va. — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA), and Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) will unite to host a collaborative Student Leadership Conference in 2026. The event, scheduled for late September, represents a significant opportunity for student leaders to connect, develop their leadership skills, and strengthen pathways that support the future of chiropractic.

“This joint effort is an opportunity to nurture connections between our leaders and members, strengthening the future of chiropractic,” said ACA President Marc Nynas, DC. “I’m excited to see ACA and ABCA come together for a collaborative Student Leadership Conference hosted by SCU.”

“Collaboration is essential for the growth of our profession,” added ABCA President Brandi Childress, DC. “Bringing our organizations together will open new doors and create opportunities that support greater representation and leadership development within the chiropractic community.”

SCU will welcome student leaders to its campus for four days of programming designed to inspire and empower the next generation of chiropractic professionals. “SCU is honored to host this historic meeting, and we are excited by the knowledge students will gain from it and from each other,” said SCU President John Scaringe, DC, EdD.

ACA’s annual Student Leadership Conference has long served as a valuable opportunity for education, networking, and mentorship for student members of ACA (SACA). Students engage directly with leading voices in the profession and gain exposure to leadership models that inform their academic and professional growth. ABCA plays an essential role in fostering diversity in the chiropractic field and providing a strong and distinct voice for Black chiropractic students and doctors. Its participation in the conference expands access, representation, and collaborative learning for all attendees.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment by ACA, ABCA, and SCU to advance leadership, innovation, and unity within chiropractic education. Additional conference details will be announced in the coming months.

About the American Chiropractic Association

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the United States. ACA attracts the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, who understand that it takes more to be called an ACA chiropractor. We are leading our profession in the most constructive and far-reaching ways—by working hand in hand with other health care professionals, by lobbying for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, by supporting meaningful research, and by using that research to inform our treatment practices. We also provide professional and educational opportunities for all our members and are committed to being a positive and unifying force for the practice of modern chiropractic. Visit acatoday.org.

About the American Black Chiropractic Association

The mission of the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) is to integrate and improve outcomes for persons of color entering the Doctor of Chiropractic profession. Our primary purpose is to recruit, encourage, and support Black individuals in the study of chiropractic, and to encourage research contributing to the science, philosophy, and art of the field. Furthermore, we assist chiropractic colleges in recruiting qualified Black students and faculty. As chiropractic is a growing field, we aim to improve professional standards, provide continuous community education, and maintain the Harvey Lillard Scholarship and Endowment Fund to support the educational growth of members of the Student American Black Chiropractic Association. Visit abcachiro.com.

(more…)

0

Patient Experience and Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care: A National Survey

By Frank M. Painter|November 30, 2025|Patient Satisfaction|

Patient Experience and Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care: A National Survey

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: BMC Health Serv Res 2025 (Nov 26)
Line Lyskjær • Werner Vach • Casper Nim • Steen Harsted • Marlene Øllegaard Terkelsen • Rikke Krüger Jensen

Chiropractic Knowledge Hub,
Odense, Denmark

Background Patient experience and satisfaction are important to stakeholders in the healthcare system, including payers, providers and patients. This study explores the patient experience and satisfaction with chiropractic care in Denmark including how aspects of patient experience and patient characteristics influence overall satisfaction.

Methods A national survey was conducted over a two-week period in January 2023, targeting patients in all chiropractic clinics in Denmark. Clinics were asked to invite all patients to participate. Enrolled participants completed an electronic survey, containing 28 items on patient experience and satisfaction (5-point Likert scale). Associations of aspects of patient experience and patient characteristics with overall satisfaction were analysed with ordinal regression. Variation across clinics was analysed by forest plots and random effect models.

Results Of the 250 clinics invited, 228 clinics (91%) recruited 27,577 patients for the survey (invitation rate of 53%). Of these, 17,974 (65%) were included in the final analysis. Patients reported ‘very high’ or ‘high’ degree of overall satisfaction with care (97%). Overall satisfaction was associated with personal experiences involving the chiropractor, particularly in the areas of examination and communication, patient involvement and information, and perceived effectiveness and reassurance. Lower satisfaction was linked to experiences involving delays, unexpected adverse events, and the process of collaboration with other health care professionals. Higher satisfaction was reported among women, patients under 30?years, and those with prior chiropractic care. Variation in overall satisfaction and patient experiences could not be fully explained by differences in known patient characteristics.

Conclusion While patients generally reported very high satisfaction with chiropractic care in Denmark, certain experiences and patient characteristics influenced this perception. Chiropractors should continue to prioritise quality interactions, personalised care, clear communication about risks of adverse events, and effective collaboration with other health care professionals.

Keywords: Chiropractic care; Patient experiences; Patient interaction; Patient satisfaction; Personalised care; Provider variation.

From the FULL TEXT Article:

Background

There are more articles like this @ our

PATIENT SATISFACTION Section

(more…)

0

Chiropractic Students Versus Emergency Care Practitioners in Simulated Musculoskeletal Emergencies

By Frank M. Painter|November 11, 2025|All About Chiropractic, Care Plans, Cervical Disk Herniation, Chiropractic Education, Chiropractic Management, Diagnosis, Escalation of Care, Evidence-based Medicine|

Chiropractic Students Versus Emergency Care Practitioners in Simulated Musculoskeletal Emergencies

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Health SA 2025 (Oct 31): 30: 3195

Ivanna Balanco • Helen Slabber • Christopher Yelverton

Department of Chiropractic,
Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg,
Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: As primary contact practitioners, chiropractors and emergency care practitioners (ECPs are first points of access for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints. A comparison of their diagnostic competency in distinguishing these presentations from underlying emergency pathologies remains an understudied area.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic abilities of Master of Health Science (MHSc) chiropractic students and ECPs in distinguishing MSK from emergency conditions.

Setting: The research was conducted at the University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Health Sciences, simulation laboratory.

Methods: First-year (n = 10) and second-year Master’s (n = 10) chiropractic students and ECPs (n = 10) were assessed using standardised patient scenarios: meningitis, disc herniation and stroke, and assessed on diagnostic assessment, diagnosis and clinical and diagnostic investigation referrals.

Results: Second-year MHSc students outperformed ECPs in the clinical management of a disc herniation case (Case 2; p < 0.01). Diagnostic accuracy was high (> 90%) for meningitis and stroke across all groups. Differences in investigation preferences emerged, with chiropractic students favouring advanced imaging and ECPs recommending more basic tests. No significant performance differences were found in the other two cases.

Conclusion: Based on a simulated assessment, chiropractic students demonstrated equivalent competence to emergency care practitioners (ECPs) in diagnosing emergencies, but outperformed them in managing an MSK condition. These preliminary findings suggest chiropractors could contribute to the management of MSK burden in emergency departments.

Contribution: MHSc chiropractic training enhances diagnostic proficiency in differentiating MSK disorders from emergent pathologies, an important competency for safe and effective practice as primary contact practitioners.

Keywords: chiropractic; clinical competence; diagnosis; emergency medical services; musculoskeletal disease; simulation.

From the FULL TEXT Article:

Introduction

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions represent a significant global health burden, ranking as the second leading cause of disability worldwide and affecting approximately one in five working-age adults (Lowe, Taylor & Hill 2017; Weinstein 2016). Back pain, a prevalent MSK complaint, contributes substantially to reduced work productivity, absenteeism and healthcare costs (Ingram & Symmons 2018; Menke 2003). This high prevalence strains healthcare systems, leading to long wait times for specialist care, including surgery (Joshipura & Gosselin 2020).

There are more articles like this @

ALL ABOUT CHIROPRACTIC Section

(more…)

0

Nociplastic Pain: An Introduction

By Frank M. Painter|October 21, 2025|Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Neck Pain, Chronic Pain, Nociplastic Pain|

Nociplastic Pain: An Introduction

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Can Chiropr Assoc 2025 (Aug); 69 (2): 131–144

Christopher B. Roecker, DC, MS • Samuel M. Schut, DC

VA Puget Sound Health Care System,
Care Rehabilitation Care Services,
Everett, Washington.

Chronic pain is common in chiropractic practice and often presents without clear evidence of tissue injury. Nociplastic pain is a recently defined concept that highlights altered nociceptive processing within the nervous system. This newer understanding of pain provides insight into chronic conditions such as chronic back or neck pain, chronic headaches, and fibromyalgia. These conditions are commonly encountered in chiropractic practice but may be challenging to address using traditional models. This commentary introduces nociplastic pain, outlining potential mechanisms and relevance to chiropractic care. We advocate a collaborative, multimodal management approach that includes patient education, exercise promotion, and functional goal-setting within a biopsychosocial framework. Understanding nociplastic pain equips chiropractors to support patients with complex chronic pain through compassionate, evidence-based care that addresses the whole person.

Keywords: back; biopsychosocial; central sensitization; chiropractic; chronic; fibromyalgia; headache; interdisciplinary health teams; management; neck; neuropathic; nociception; nociplastic; pain; widespread chronic pain.

From the FULL TEXT Article:

Introduction

Advances in pain science continue to transform our understanding of pain mechanisms. Traditionally, pain has been mechanistically classified as either nociceptive or neuropathic in nature, and cases that did not fall easily into one of these categories were often labeled as idiopathic or pejoratively suggestive of malingering. [1] This framework, however, was incomplete and left many patients without a clear explanation for their symptoms. By 2017, sufficient evidence had accumulated to describe a third pain mechanistic descriptor (i.e., type of pain), characterized by alterations in nociceptive processing. [2–4] This new understanding of pain is now recognized as nociplastic pain. [5–8]

Table 1

Nociplastic pain is defined as “pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing the activation of peripheral nociceptors or evidence for disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causing the pain” (Table 1). [5, 8] The purpose of this commentary is to introduce nociplastic pain, its purported pathophysiologic mechanisms, management strategies, and its implications for clinical decision-making within the chiropractic profession.

Nociplastic pain

There is more like this @

LOW BACK PAIN Section and the

CHRONIC NECK PAIN Section and the

SPINAL PAIN MANAGEMENT Section

(more…)

0

Lithium Deficiency and the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease

By Frank M. Painter|September 18, 2025|Alzheimer's Disease|

Lithium Deficiency and the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Nature 2025 (Aug 6) [EPUB]

Liviu Aron • Zhen Kai Ngian • Chenxi Qiu • Jaejoon Choi • Marianna Liang •
Derek M Drake • Sara E Hamplova • Ella K Lacey • Perle Roche • Monlan Yuan< • Saba S Hazaveh • Eunjung A Lee • David A Bennett • Bruce A Yankner

Department of Genetics,
Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, USA.

You may want to read this in-depth review of this study, created by PBS News.

The author interviewed the Harvard scientists, and this review is a testament to clarity and quality journalism, before you jump into reading this dense and complex study.

You will be glad that you did.

The earliest molecular changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are poorly understood. [1-5] Here we show that endogenous lithium (Li) is dynamically regulated in the brain and contributes to cognitive preservation during ageing. Of the metals we analysed, Li was the only one that was significantly reduced in the brain in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to AD. Li bioavailability was further reduced in AD by amyloid sequestration.

We explored the role of endogenous Li in the brain by depleting it from the diet of wild-type and AD mouse models. Reducing endogenous cortical Li by approximately 50% markedly increased the deposition of amyloid-β and the accumulation of phospho-tau, and led to pro-inflammatory microglial activation, the loss of synapses, axons and myelin, and accelerated cognitive decline.

These effects were mediated, at least in part, through activation of the kinase GSK3β. Single-nucleus RNA-seq showed that Li deficiency gives rise to transcriptome changes in multiple brain cell types that overlap with transcriptome changes in AD.

Replacement therapy with lithium orotate, which is a Li salt with reduced amyloid binding, prevents pathological changes and memory loss in AD mouse models and ageing wild-type mice.

These findings reveal physiological effects of endogenous Li in the brain and indicate that disruption of Li homeostasis may be an early event in the pathogenesis of AD. Li replacement with amyloid-evading salts is a potential approach to the prevention and treatment of AD.

From the Full-Text Article:

There is more like this @ our

ALZHEIMER’s Section

(more…)

1

Effect of Chiropractic Intervention on Oculomotor and Attentional Visual Outcomes in Young Adults With Long-Term Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

By Frank M. Painter|September 7, 2025|Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Pediatrics|

Effect of Chiropractic Intervention on Oculomotor and Attentional Visual Outcomes in Young
Adults With Long-Term Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2024 (Jan); 47 (1-4): 1–11

Alice E. Cade PhD • Philip R.K. Turnbull PhD

Department Optometry & Vision Science,
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand;
Centre for Chiropractic Research,
New Zealand College of Chiropractic,
Auckland, New Zealand.

Objective: This study aimed to establish if chiropractic care can improve oculomotor and cognitive symptoms in individuals with persistent postconcussion syndrome (PPCS).

Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled intervention study recorded baseline computerized eye-tracker assessment (CEA) outcomes in 40 young adults with PPCS following mild traumatic brain injury. Participants were randomly allocated to either a chiropractic or age-matched active control intervention, and the change in CEA outcomes following intervention was compared between the chiropractic and control groups. A battery of CEAs including egocentric localization, fixation stability, pursuit, saccades, Stroop, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex, were used to assess oculomotor function, visual attention/processing, and selective attention.

Results: Relative to the control group, participants receiving the chiropractic intervention scored better in the Stroop test (P < .001), had improved gaze stability during both vestibulo-ocular reflex (P < .001) and fixation stability (P = .009), and a lower vertical error in egocentric localization (P < .001). However, performance was poorer in pursuits, where they had an increased tracking error (P < .001).

Conclusion: Chiropractic care in participants with PPCS significantly improved static and dynamic gaze stability, and performance in the Stroop test, compared with a control intervention. These results suggest that chiropractic care can offer a novel avenue for alleviating certain visual and cognitive symptoms in patients with PPCS. It also adds to the growing evidence that suggests that some longstanding PPCS visual symptoms may have a spinal or proprioceptive basis.

Keywords: Brain Concussion; Chiropractic; Eye-Tracking Technology; Postconcussion Syndrome; Proprioception.

From the Full-Text Article:

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a change in typical brain function that affects neurologic function after an external force to the head. [1, 2] Diagnosis and categorization of TBI severity is currently subjective, open to bias, and predicting an individual’s outcome after injury is challenging. [3, 4] Although symptoms can vary depending on the neurologic area of injury, visual symptoms are common following even mild TBI (MTBI) owing to the many areas of the brain involved in processing vision [5] and controlling the eyes. Visual symptoms can include oculomotor dysfunction including disorders of convergence and accommodation, poorer fixation, slower or less accurate saccades, poorer pursuit movements, and modification of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). [6]

There is more like this @ our

PEDIATRICS Section and the

MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY Section

(more…)

0