ACC and RAC To Hold Biggest
Chiropractic Academic, Research Conference
For the first time, the ninth annual meeting of the Association of Chiropractic
Colleges (ACC) is combined with the seventh annual meeting of the chiropractic
Research Agenda Conference (RAC) in New Orleans, March 13-16, 2002. It will
be four days of over 160 workshops, platform and poster presentations that include
some of the best clinical information, academic findings and chiropractic research.
The two organizations decided to merge their meetings to hold the most comprehensive
chiropractic programs for chiropractic educators and chiropractic researchers.
For information on the conference, visit the website at chiropractic.freeservers.com/index.htm
or by calling (563) 884-5198.
National Orthopaedic Group Urges Members To Add Complementary And Alternative
Options To Regimen
Orthopaedic surgeons are seeing increases in the number of patients using complementary
and alternative options as part of their health routine, since the demand for
it has increased dramatically in the United States in the last decade. As part
of this growing trend, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has launched
an online CAM information site, as part of the group’s commitment to educate
the public on the common usage of some herbs and interactions with drugs.
To access the CAM site, log on to the academy’s web site, www.aaos.org;
highlight the Public and Media Relations tab, click on Newsroom and scroll down
to the CAM icon.
UPDATE: Historic Chiropractic Veterans Legislation; President Bush Signs
Into Law
In a historic victory for the chiropractic profession, U.S. President George
W. Bush signed legislation on Jan.23 mandating the establishment of a permanent
chiropractic benefit within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) health-care
system. Several chiropractic organizations—including the American Chiropractic
Association, the International Chiropractors Association, the Association of
Chiropractic Colleges and the World Chiropractic Alliance—were involved
in the process, which proved the powerful role chiropractic plays on Capitol
Hill and in the nation’s health-care system.
The legislation, called the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs
Enhancement Act of 2001 (H.R. 3447), was passed by the Senate Dec. 20 during
one of the last actions of the 107th Congress before its adjournment for the
year. The U.S. House had passed the legislation on Dec. 10.
The legislation authorizes the hiring of doctors of chiropractic in the DVA
health system, includes “subluxation” language, and allows the chiropractic
profession to oversee the development and implementation of the new benefit
through an “advisory committee,” partially composed of representatives
of the chiropractic profession. The agreement is similar to legislative language
that became law last year requiring the Department of Defense to establish a
permanent chiropractic benefit for active duty military personnel.
The measure was championed by a strong bi-partisan coalition led by House Veterans
Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Congressmen Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lane
Evans (D-Ill.) and Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Senator Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) and
Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.). Governor Bob Wise of West Virginia was also
instrumental in lobbying for support of the legislation.
Key provisions of the new legislative language include:
The profession’s task will now be to ensure that the DVA properly and expeditiously
moves forward to implement this congressional mandate.
Recent Research Examines Effects of Golf Swing on Spinal Health
In the November/December 2001 issue of Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics, researchers published the results of a recent study, The Short
Golf Backswing: Effects on Performance and Spinal Health Implications, which
examined the frequent back pain and injuries in golfers.
Researchers, Ronald Bulbulian, Ph.D., Kevin Ball, Ph.D., and David Seaman, D.C.,
studied how full recoil golf swings have been implicated in back pain and injury
in golfers, and believed that a restricted backswing may reduce the potential
for injury without compromising performance.
After an extensive study, they discovered that short backswings in golf may
reduce trunk muscle activation and possibly reduce back injury and pain without
negatively impacting on swing accuracy or club head velocity. The short swing,
however, increases shoulder muscle activation and may in turn promote risk for
shoulder injury.
Chiropractic Spokesman/Speed Skater Wins Gold in 2002 Olympics
American Chiropractic Association-endorsed speed skater Derek Parra went straight
for the medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He earned a silver
medal in the 5,000-meter Olympic speed skating event in early February and then,
on Feb. 19, went on to set a world record and take the gold medal in the 1,500-meter
event with a time of 1:43.95.
Previously Parra won a gold medal in the 1,500-meter race on Nov. 24 at the
World Cup event in the Netherlands. In that race he skated a time of 1:49.78.
Referring to his gold medal from the Netherlands race, Parra said: “My
focus on skating technically paid off well. Breaking the track record like I
did was more than I expected.”
Last March, Parra captured his first World Championship medal, earning a silver
medal in the 1,500 meters at the World Single Distance Championships in Salt
Lake City.
A faithful chiropractic patient, Parra has said, “I’ve always believed
in chiropractic care. I’ve used a lot of other treatments for injuries
and pain, but the problem doesn’t get fixed until I go to a doctor of chiropractic.”
ICA Celebrates 10-Year Partnership With Arnold Classic
The International Chiropractors Association and the ICA Council on Fitness and
Sports Health Science celebrated the 10th anniversary in partnership with the
Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding Classic & Fitness Expo in Columbus, Ohio,
on February 22-24.
This year’s gala ICA Symposium on Natural Fitness provided an exceptional
continuing education program, co-sponsored by Cleveland Chiropractic College,
and featured top leaders in the world of fitness who are dedicated to exercise
and sports training in the context of chiropractic care. The highlight once
again this year was a personal appearance by global superstar and long time
chiropractic supporter Arnold Schwarzenegger.
All registered participants in this year’s symposium learned from outstanding
instructors in exercise, strength and conditioning and chiropractic in a quality
continuing education setting—all in conjunction with the excitement of
Arnold’s Fitness Weekend, Championship Competitions and Fitness Expo.
“This historic partnership between the ICA and Arnold Schwarzenegger is
one of the most powerful celebrity alliances ever established by the chiropractic
profession,” said Dr. Coralee Van Egmond, director of the ICA Council on
Fitness and Sports Health Science. “Each year Arnold has come to the ICA
Symposium and presented a powerful, articulate and sincere endorsement of chiropractic.
He has spoken with great conviction of the important role chiropractic has played
in his career both as a bodybuilding champion and as an actor, crediting chiropractic
care for helping him train and work through injuries that would have sidelined
others.”
© Copyright 2002 Today's Chiropractic