Dynamic Chiropractic

Dr. Sherry McAllister, president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, recently served as an expert source for a prominent article on Tomsguide.com, a website boasting a massive audience of over 25 million visitors monthly. The article, titled “What’s So Bad About Stomach Sleeping? Expert Dishes the Dirt on So-Called ‘Worst Sleeping Position Ever,’” focuses on the crucial link between sleep posture and spinal health.

According to Dr. McAllister, sleeping on your stomach is particularly detrimental because it disrupts the spine’s natural curve, placing undue strain on back muscles and joints. It also forces neck rotation, creating tension that can lead to neck pain, upper back issues, headaches, and chronic discomfort. Furthermore, the torso can sink too deeply, causing muscle tension, spinal joint dysfunction, and added strain. The position can even affect internal organs, potentially impacting digestion and breathing. While switching positions might cause temporary disruption, moving away from stomach sleeping offers significant long-term benefits like reduced pain and improved sleep quality. Dr. McAllister emphasizes that a spinal check-up with a chiropractor can help restore proper muscle and joint balance for better sleep. This feature provides valuable pro-chiropractic information to a vast online audience.

Discover a fascinating intersection of medical fields as a psychiatrist highlights how chiropractic care may improve mental health through the gut-brain-spine connection in a Psychology Today post. This is seen as strong evidence of an evolving perspective towards chiropractic within the medical community. Dr. Mitchell Liester, a psychiatrist, co-authored the post, emphasizing evidence-based mechanisms like improved vagal tone, enhanced neuroplasticity, HPA axis modulation, and positive changes in the gut microbiome as benefits of spinal adjustments.

The article also outlines clinical applications, suggesting chiropractic as a complementary approach to traditional mental health treatments. It can serve as a stress reduction strategy, support gut health for those with digestive and mental health symptoms, and enhance body awareness. The significance of an MD, especially one who can prescribe medication, discussing chiropractic's mental health benefits, is a key takeaway.

Forget everything you thought you knew about stretching injured or aging tendons! This article reveals that for conditions like Achilles tendinopathy, the real issue isn't tightness, but often an overly flexible or "compliant" tendon due to microscopic tears or age. This forces the calf muscles to operate in a shortened, weaker position. Aggressively stretching such a tendon would only worsen this problem.

Instead, research strongly supports using heavy-resistance, prolonged isometric contractions as a powerful way to actually tighten injured and aging tendons. This method can significantly increase tendon stiffness, allowing muscles to work more effectively and improve force output. Studies show remarkable results like increased Achilles tendon stiffness, improved running economy, and immediate, significant pain reduction in painful tendinopathy. These safe and effective exercises empower patients, decrease reliance on pain medication, and underscore that "Exercise is medicine".

MRI preauthorization is a system used by insurance carriers that often creates problems for patient care, primarily by delaying diagnosis and treatment. A major issue is the secrecy surrounding the approval criteria, leaving healthcare providers and patients at a disadvantage. The article shares some decoded criteria, including the requirement that patients must complete six weeks of unsuccessful conservative care before a scan is typically approved. Other factors that warrant scanning include physical signs of disc radiculopathy or stenosis, such as positive SLR or slump tests, evidence of progressive neurological loss like diminished reflexes or muscle atrophy, and relevant abnormal findings on existing imaging. Obtaining a CT scan first may sometimes be easier and provide support for an MRI.

When preauthorization is denied, the doctor can request a peer-to-peer phone conference with a carrier representative, although these discussions should focus on documentation, as carrier rules lack emotion. If the scan is denied again after the peer-to-peer conference, a crucial option is to get the patient involved. As it's their insurance, they can call the carrier to make their case, but the author cautions against suggesting this before a denial occurs to avoid confusion. This current era contrasts with the early days of managed care when carriers sometimes encouraged scans to validate claims they ultimately had to pay.

This article, the first in a series honoring notable female doctors of chiropractic, introduces Dr. Anna Mae Foy as the "undisputed pioneer matriarch" of the profession. A student of chiropractic history initiated this research to recognize key women in areas like licensure, pediatrics, and education. Dr. Foy's immense contributions began shortly after receiving her DC degree in 1910.

She was instrumental in founding the Kansas Chiropractic Association (KCA) in 1911, serving as its first secretary and original lobbyist. Her lobbying efforts culminated in securing the world's first chiropractic licensing law in 1913. Dr. Foy herself received the first license issued under this law in 1915. Appointed to the first Kansas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, she served a record-breaking 27 years, including leadership roles as president and secretary-treasurer. Beyond licensure, she founded the Kansas School of Chiropractic in 1914. Dr. Foy's foresight ensured her historical significance was preserved through donations to research centers.

The INVICTA Project offers a beacon of hope for our nation's heroes – active-duty and retired military veterans and first responders. Recognizing the unique physical and mental toll of their service, particularly concerning traumatic brain injury (TBI) and related issues, this project provides unprecedented access to innovative, less invasive healthcare at no cost to them. Administered at the Parker Performance Institute (PPI) in Frisco, Texas, the program utilizes cutting-edge technology and a tailored, two-week residential protocol. Patients receive comprehensive neuromusculoskeletal, metabolic, and neurological evaluations and treatments, including chiropractic, manual therapy, rehabilitative exercise, functional labs, and therapies for conditions like post-concussion syndrome, headaches, brain fog, and physical pain. The goal is to help these heroes reclaim their health, restore balance, and step back into life to the fullest, supported by generous sponsors.

This article highlights the powerful role chiropractors can play in improving patients' cardiovascular health, moving beyond a traditional musculoskeletal model to one focused on longevity and health enhancement. It emphasizes that improving lifestyle factors – sleep, exercise, and diet – forms a crucial foundation for managing conditions like hypertension. The author, Dr. Jeffrey Tucker, a chiropractor with a rehabilitation diplomate, strongly advocates for plant-based foods, less processed options, whole foods, proper protein and healthy fats, and increasing daily steps to at least 6500. Exercise, including both cardiovascular and resistance training, is shown to make the heart more efficient and stronger.

Crucially, the article also explores a potential connection between chiropractic treatments and cardiovascular function. Correcting vertebral subluxations is thought to enhance neurological integrity, potentially influencing autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular regulation. One observational study found a statistically significant reduction in high pulse pressure following upper cervical care. While studies note health promotion advice is given in chiropractic clinics, there's room for more specific guidance on cardiovascular risk. Weight management is also a key focus, with significant blood pressure improvements linked to weight loss, a process where chiropractic care can even act as a gateway by improving gait for exercise.

Foot pain is a remarkably common issue, affecting nearly 8 in 10 Americans and significantly impacting quality of life by restricting activities like walking and exercising. While traditional approaches often involve medications or injections, this article highlights red light / infrared therapy as a compelling alternative. This therapy is presented as non-invasive, painless, effective, and dependable. Treatment sessions are brief, only 20 minutes, and can even be unattended.

The therapy works by promoting beneficial chemical processes within cells, leading to increased circulation and supporting the body's natural healing mechanisms. It can not only help relieve various types of foot pain quickly but may also accelerate healing of tissues like skin, nerves, tendons, cartilage, and bones. Manufacturers offer specific pads designed for foot treatment, allowing practitioners to use the therapy in-office, rent pads to patients, or sell systems for home use. Ultimately, this therapy aims to help patients maintain a comfortable, mobile, and active lifestyle.

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) conducts its comprehensive Practice Analysis of Chiropractic survey every five years to ensure licensing exams are up-to-date. The recently released 2025 findings offer a compelling look at how the profession is evolving. Significant shifts are apparent since the first analysis in 1991, including substantial moves towards greater gender balance and increased racial and ethnic diversity within the profession. DCs are also staying in practice longer. Comparing 2025 to 2020 data reveals important trends: a noticeable drop in doctors practicing as sole proprietors (now 55%, down from 64%) and an increase in those working as associates or employees. The survey also found a decrease in the percentage of offices offering in-office diagnostic imaging. New data for 2025 highlights economic realities, showing that two-thirds of DCs earn over $100,000 per year, with 20% earning more than $250,000. Practice settings are diversifying, with less than half of DCs working in single-doctor offices and a growing number in multi-DC or multidisciplinary facilities. Patient volume remains high, with nearly three-quarters of DCs seeing at least 50 patients weekly. This analysis paints a picture of a dynamic profession adapting to changing demographics, business models, and economic landscapes.

This article explores the significant opportunity for chiropractic physicians to serve Native American tribal communities, highlighting a critical need and emerging pathways. With 574 federally recognized tribes and millions of members, Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of chronic pain and substance use disorders, exacerbated by historical underfunding and limited services at traditional Indian Health Service (IHS) clinics. Notably, IHS clinics were historically high opioid prescribers.

However, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 empowers self-determining or "638" tribes to take control of their health clinics and add services beyond the basic IHS offerings. In response to the opioid crisis and the need for non-pharmacological pain management, some "638" tribes are successfully petitioning and integrating chiropractic services into their medically integrated clinics. While challenges exist, such as navigating medical EHRs, adapting care plans, and requiring cultural humility due to generational trauma and historical distrust, working in tribal clinics offers a rewarding chance to provide essential care to a population often denied guideline-adherent treatment, aligning well with their focus on addressing pain and function. This represents a crucial step towards integrative care and addressing health disparities.