Dynamic Chiropractic

The Trump administration's new appointments at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are generating significant interest, particularly for the chiropractic profession. The appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the new NIH Director signals a potential shift in healthcare perspectives. Dr. Bhattacharya, known for co-authoring the controversial Great Barrington Declaration which advocated for focused protection during the COVID-19 pandemic, has also questioned the NIH's funding priorities, suggesting a need to support more "edge science" rather than solely building on established ideas. This new leadership could foster a more favorable environment for chiropractic research funding through the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Care (NCCIHC). The article delves into the NIH's grant approval process and the potential influence of the new director on advisory councils. The author recounts a past experience of attempting to diversify appointments to HHS advisory committees, highlighting the resistance from the scientific community. With these changes, the author suggests that the chiropractic profession should actively pursue consumer appointments on NIH institute councils to broaden their opportunities.

Treating children of divorced parents presents unique legal and ethical challenges for chiropractors, as highlighted in this Dynamic Chiropractic article. The primary concern revolves around parental consent, especially in joint custody situations where both parents typically need to provide written consent for treatment unless a court order states otherwise. The article recounts a case where a chiropractor faced legal repercussions for assuming one parent had sole authority. To mitigate these malpractice risks, the author strongly advises chiropractors to obtain written consent from both parents, establish clear office policies addressing divorced or separated families, and ensure parents understand these policies during intake. Maintaining neutrality in parental conflicts and clearly defining financial responsibilities are also crucial. The article underscores the importance of training staff to identify potential red flags during patient intake and emphasizes that proactive documentation and clear communication are essential to protect the practice and focus on providing quality care. Recognizing when escalating parental conflict necessitates discontinuing treatment is also a key consideration.

Are your patients, especially older adults, taking a cocktail of medications? This Dynamic Chiropractic article shines a light on "deprescribing" – a planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be necessary or could be causing harm. The article points out that many individuals, particularly seniors, continue taking drugs without regular review, leading to polypharmacy, which is associated with poor health outcomes. It's alarming that the term "deprescribing" was only coined in 2003, highlighting a historically prescription-focused medical model. Encouragingly, research indicates benefits from deprescribing certain medications like antihypertensives, potentially lessening cognitive decline in dementia patients. While chiropractic doesn't involve prescribing drugs, the article empowers chiropractors to play a vital role by simply asking patients about medication reviews with their medical providers. This simple question can encourage patients and their doctors to reconsider the necessity of their current drug regimens, potentially leading to improved health and well-being.

In part two of his article, Dr. Jeffrey Tucker urges chiropractors to actively engage in their patients' cardiovascular health beyond musculoskeletal concerns. He emphasizes the importance of personalized protein intake based on lean body mass and dietary preferences, noting that meat, poultry, and seafood provide coenzyme Q10 which can help preserve nitric oxide. Dr. Tucker strongly advocates for an anti-inflammatory, plant-based forward diet to combat various conditions linked to inflammation, including vascular issues. He highlights the crucial role of deep sleep in cardiovascular restoration. Regarding fats, he favors olive oil (especially extra virgin) for its nitric oxide-boosting polyphenols and cardiovascular benefits, while expressing concerns about the processing and high omega-6 content of many seed oils. Other recommendations include limiting sugar and processed foods, promoting nasal breathing, and considering water filtration and specific supplements like red ginseng and red sage to enhance nitric oxide production. Ultimately, Dr. Tucker stresses that lifestyle factors significantly impact heart disease risk and that chiropractors have a vital role in educating patients about prevention.

Ever wonder how your feet impact your back? This fascinating study in Dynamic Chiropractic uncovers the significant link between foot pronation and pelvic alignment. The authors reveal that when the **calcaneus (heel bone)Ever wonder how your feet impact your back? This fascinating study in Dynamic Chiropractic uncovers the significant link between foot pronation and pelvic alignment. The authors reveal that when the **calcaneus (heel bone)Ever wonder how your feet impact your back? This fascinating study in Dynamic Chiropractic uncovers the significant link between foot pronation and pelvic alignment. The authors reveal that when the calcaneus (heel bone)everts (pronates) under the talus, the talus shifts, causing internal rotation of the tibia and femur. This chain reaction culminates in anterior rotation of the os coxa (pelvic bone). The study, involving healthy subjects, demonstrated a significant positive correlation between induced foot pronation (using a heel lift) and this anterior pelvic tilt. This highlights that assessing and addressing foot pronation is crucial when evaluating anterior pelvic rotation. The researchers suggest future studies could explore if correcting foot posture can restore neutral pelvic alignment. This article underscores the foot's fundamental role as the foundation of posture, impacting structures all the way up the kinetic chain.