As our knowledge and abilities evolve the manual adjustment fades into the background.

The structural aspect of chiropractic gets put behind the neurological component. This is where it belongs. Chiropractic was always about tone. That’s because neurology is always about tone. Simple concept.

The educational institutions have lost sight of the foundations of chiropractic and would do well to introduce Steveson’s text into the cirriculum again.

Does anyone out there know who Steveson was?

Yes it can be a difficult book but it is not that difficult if you actually think about what is in it. I use it everyday to refer to with patients so they can understand REAL chiropractic.

The really sad thing is that the institutions and boards do not encourage a neurological understanding of chiropractic. Simple things like the neurological stress response creating the tail tucked between the legs/forward head posture situation are not taught.

The idea that a specific subluxation pattern is present creating difficulty reading for a child does not even get lip service.

Why is it that more people who suffer a concussion do not enter a chiropractic office? Because the neurological component is not understood or respected.

Example: A 3 year old falls of the back of the lounge and hits her head on the hardwood floor. Massive bruise, inability to get to sleep, very irritable, crying alot, walking off balance, behavior dramamtically altered.

GP says “it’s just a bump and a bruise, it will go away.”

Chiropractor says “there is nuerological disturbance created by that stress. Let’s find it and fix it.”

One adjustment and 2 hours later the child is normal again. One happy family. Another life/set of lives changed. All because chiropractic, practiced right, is neurologically based, not structural.

That neurological breakdown precedes the structural breakdown seems backward to the majority of practitioners.

These are foundation concepts that need to be taught. The sad thing is that the only place they are being taught is in a small number of neurologically based clinics around the world.

My first piece of advice to new graduates is always the same. Shake your head really hard and see if you can get most of that garbage that you have pushed in there out, and make some room for what you really need to make a difference in this world.

Sure, there is a lot of knowledge in the schools and a lot of information floating around. But you are not taught to think. You are not taught what you need to know to make a difference in the lives of a large number of people.

I can remember waiting outside exam rooms to go in for midterms and finals and when asked if you were ready the most common response was “MRF baby!” Memorise, Regurgitate and Forget!

It is a sad system that we are placed into to learn. The emphasis placed on the avoidance of failure; landing in the top half of the bell curve; walking away with the piece of paper.

Anyway, I must get off my soapbox (this is all MY opinion) and continue my search for an associate who knows and understands what chiropractic is. My days are getting too long because I can’t duplicate myself (haven’t figured that one out yet!)

Thank you Nick for bringing TRT to Australia and to me. It’s concepts, ideas and tools are still in the foundation of my practice. It really is a must for any practitioner who wants to know and undestand TRUE chiropractic. I still refer to the notes on a regular basis. I even use it to illustrate concepts to patients. These people are smarter then we give them credit for.

Dave