CHIROPRACTIC EXCELLENCE

It would appear that the greater the number of Chiropractors in a community, the healthier that community will be…

In the USA the news that Minnesota ranks first in health and Louisiana last, suggests that their connecting medium, the Mississippi River, or some other north-to-south phenomenon might be a factor. Consequently, correlations were assessed for various outcomes for states along the Mississippi River in an effort to better understand possible mechanisms for the health disparity along the River. Doctor ratios were also correlated with the outcomes.

Each state along the Mississippi River was ranked according to its north-to-south position. The position ranks were correlated with various outcomes in the areas of health, education, and socioeconomics. Doctor (physician [medical and osteopathic] and chiropractor) ratios for these river states were also correlated with these outcomes.

Except for generosity index, the outcomes had a tendency to worsen from north-to-south but tended to improve with increased doctor ratios. Chiropractors had stronger correlations for improved outcomes in 20 of the 25 outcomes compared to physicians, whereas physicians had stronger correlations in four of the 25 outcomes compared to chiropractors.

Decreased health along the Mississippi River, from north-to-south, is likely a multi-factorial phenomenon, i.e., a decrease in income, educational attainment, and quality of health care.

The ratios for both doctor types (physician and chiropractor) were correlated with improved outcomes, especially for chiropractor ratios.

Click Here To Read The Research Abstract At The Journal Of Vertebral Subluxation Research…

There is compelling scientific evidence that what people know about diet and how they eat are in many cases two different issues? I’m sure you have observed that this void between knowing and doing crosses over into all health behaviours?

1) The acute antalgic low back or torticollis crisis patient who promises you that they will keep seeing you forever for maintenance care if you can only help them get out of agony; who then discontinue somewhere between visit two and six because “they are fine now and will ring if they have any further problems”.

2) The reactivating patient that confesses that they were feeling great while they were doing the exercises that you taught them, but then they just forgot about them because they didn’t have any pain. And then they ask you “why does this problem keep coming back?”

3) The osteo-arthritic retiree that starts complaining of increased aching and stiffness, and when you ask them if they are still taking their Glucosamine, they respond “Oh I finished the bottle and thought I’d see how I’d go without them for a while”.

4) You meet an old regular practice member who discontinued 1-2 years ago, and when you ask them how they are going they give you the long list of ailments, diagnoses and prescriptions that they now take, and then pass comment “you know when I used to see you I didn’t have any of these problems”.

There’s a push in our profession right now to adapt us into risk-factor screening machines, who then pass appropriate educational brochures to those at risk, and warn them of the dangers of not changing their ways. Think about this: Most people who are overweight already know they are overweight; most people who are unfit already experience the effects of it; most people experiencing symptoms of Diabetes are aware of the symptoms… They don’t need you to identify the symptoms of their condition. They need help closing the void between their awareness and their behaviour!

If you want to be a wellness practitioner let me tell you a major paradigm shift you are going to have to make - It’s not about you, it’s about them. Wellness is a personal journey of lifestyle choices leading towards better life and health outcomes. You can’t make the decisions for them - if you try to then its not wellness - it’s medicine.

Here’s four questions that you must ask your practice members to make massive changes in your wellness relationship:

1) “What is your biggest health priority right now?” Their choice not yours.

2) “What are three things you think you could do to improve this area of your life?” Their choice, not yours. But this may be the point where they ask you for your educated opinion.

3) “What information do you think you need to help you make this change?” This is the point where they will most likely give you permission to feed them with resources.

4) “What would you like me to do to make sure you follow through on your plan?” This is where you help them to make some commitments, set some goals for them to achieve, define some measures for monitoring their progress, and set a time-line for review.

Click Here To See How Wellness Coaching Is Done…