Reed B. Phillips, D.C., Ph.D.
**Comments in red by Stephen Barrett, M.D. A. The Origin and Evolution of Chiropractic Belief Systems The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental characteristics. (1) a testable principle suggesting that the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and heals and (2) an untestable metaphor that asserts that the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in healing processes. Even though early chiropractors characterized these perspectives on health as unique (Palmer, 1910), the conceptualization of the relationship between “life” and “matter” actually began with the early Greek philosophers (Hall, 1969, pp. 18-20). In fact, the origins of traditional “chiropractic philosophy” can be found within the classical philosophic disciplines (e.g., metaphysics, ontology), which attempted to explore the “nature …
**Comments in red by Stephen Barrett, M.D. Rarely is the birth of a new idea or a new organization the consequence of a singular event. However, the genesis of a new profession, chiropractic, is attributed to the date of 18 September 1895 and the place, Davenport, Iowa. Daniel David Palmer placed his hands upon an irregular protrusion of the spine of Harvey Lillard and with a forceful thrust reduced the irregularity. As a result, Mr. Lillard claimed to hear the wagons on the street, something he could not do prior to receiving the treatment (Palmer, 1910). **So the story goes. The fact that the nerves that enable hearing are confined to the skull does not seem to discourage chiropractors from telling this story. At the …
**Comments in red by Stephen Barrett, M.D. One hundred years ago, the founder of the chiropractic profession, D. D. Palmer, reportedly used spinal manipulation to r estore a deaf janitor’s hearing. A series of events following this dramatic incident ultimately led to the establishment of what is now one of the largest health care professions in the United States. From its beginnings, this new profession eschewed more invasive treatments in favor of spinal adjusting (or manipulation) as its central approach to care. During much of its first century of existence, chiropractic was shunned by the medical profession and remained on the fringe of mainstream health care. In fact, as recently as 1980, the American Medical Association’s Principles of Medical Ethics proscribed any associations between physicians …
**Comments in red by Stephen Barrett, M.D. A. History and Development of Research 1. Early Investigations and Research “Legitimate, sustained, scientific research in chiropractic is a rather recent phenomenon. However, throughout chiropractic’s 100-year history, the terms ‘research’ and ‘science’ have been among the most popular in the literature of chiropractic and have often been used in ways that are unfamiliar to most scientists” (Keating, 1995). **Early chiropractors reasoned that chiropractic was “a well developed science” because it fit a dictionary definition (“systematized knowledge considered as a distinct field of investigation or objhect of study”). Although science fits this definition, so do medical astrology and virtually every other type of pseudoscience. In those early years, the term “science” was found in numerous publications in the professions …
This study, written by seven chiropractors and four other contributors, was sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and published by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in September 1997 as a 140-page report. Although the report contains valuable information about the chiropractic marketplace, it says almost nothing about the profession’s shortcomings. Printed copies (Order Number PB98-111693) can be obtained from NTIS for $31 plus $5 postage by calling (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-3000. To enable proper interpretation of this report, I am publishing it on Chirobase with my comments added in red type. — Stephen Barrett, M.D. Contributors Foreword I. A Brief History of Chiropractic II. Chiropractic Belief Systems III. Chiropractic Training IV. Supply, Distribution, and Utilization of Chiropractors in the …
Editors Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD Senior Scientific Investigator Center for Health Studies Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound Seattle, Washington Robert D. Mootz, DC Associate Medical Director for Chiropractic Department of Labor and Industries Olympia, Washington Other Contributors Alan H. Adams, DC Vice President of Professional Affairs Los Angeles College of Chiropractic Whittier, California Ian D. Coulter, PhD Professor, School of Dentistry, UCLA Health Consultant, RAND Professor of Research Los Angeles College of Chiropractic Los Angeles, California Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD Associate Professor Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, Iowa Gail A. Jensen, PhD Associate Professor Institute of Gerontology Department of Economics Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan William C. Meeker, DC, MPH Director of Research Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research Palmer …
