Quarterly World Report OCTOBER 2020
Inspiring a generation: interview with Dr Micheala Edwards
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President's message Education news Research news World news and more!
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3 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Out of adversity comes opportunity Dr Vivian Kil, WFC President This is my fourth and final President's message of 2020. Who would have thought when we welcomed in the year, with all of the customary enthusiasm, that, within the space of a few short weeks, life as we know it would be turned on its head and words that we had barely heard of would become part of our everyday language? Despite trauma and hardship, what we have witnessed within the chiropractic profession has given me cause for both pride and optimism. We have seen educational institutions pivot to an online learning model that enabled the continuation of studies for thousands of chiropractic students. We have observed online graduation ceremonies, attended remotely by family and friends but nevertheless made special by the efforts of educational institutions. We have seen the emergence of telehealth in some parts of the world, and continued in-person care in others where chiropractors were designated as essential workers. Chiropractors in every part of the world have risen to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and have exceeded expectations. Their work has not gone unnoticed, with Prime Ministers and others expressing their appreciation for resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity. I echo this appreciation. Having spoken with colleagues in every corner of the world, I have been repeatedly impressed by the unfailing desire of chiropractors to put the needs of their patients and communities first, and to do whatever it takes to bring relief to suffering and to provide support during these most challenging of times. Much has been made in the media and elsewhere as to what a 'New Normal' might look like. Most of us have become proficient with online meetings and conference platforms to stay in touch or continue our commitment to lifelong learning. We have adjusted to face coverings. We stay physically distanced and are respectful of the health of others. Our new normal may see us learning new tools and adopting new, innovative methods of care that we previously might not have considered. Challenging
circumstances force us to adapt in ways which are positive once we overcome natural resistance to change. In this issue of the QWR, we continue to read stories that will inspire us, unveil
I have been repeatedly impressed by the unfailing desire of chiropractors to put the needs of their patients and communities first... previously unthought-of opportunities and give us hope. Chiropractic has a vital role to play in the lives of people and populations. Together we must work to expand our workforce and exert our influence in nations around the globe. Let's commit to professional excellence and be ready to seize our rightful place as members of everyone's healthcare teams .
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WFC launches new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy In the wake of events that have taken place during 2020, the WFC has updated its policy on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The policy was revised following discussion with key stakeholders and experts in matters of racial discrimination, equality and equity. The principal objective of the policy is to promote equality, fairness and respect for all in the WFC's global community. It distinguishes clearly between equity and equality and commits to addressing discrimination in all its forms. The policy also describes its commitment to equity in the form of affirmative action to ensure that those who are commonly subjected to discrimination and are under-represented will have their voices heard. Commenting on the launch of the policy, Secretary-General Richard Brown said, "We commit to creating an inclusive environment for everyone, seeking different perspectives and respecting different points of view and different communication styles. We also commit to an understanding of diversity and inclusion by all."
The new policy can be accessed at www.wfc.org/equity
OUR PEOPLE WFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Vivian Kil (President)
European Region
Christine Goertz DC, PhD (Chair)
Michele Maiers (Vice President)
North American Region
Kei Takeyachi (Secretary-Treasurer)
Asian Region
Kendrah da Silva
African Region
Efstathios Papadopoulos
Eastern Mediterranean Region
Gian Joerger
European Region
Carlos Ayres
Latin American Region
Gerald Olin
North American Region
DISABILITY & REHABILITATION COMMITTEE
John Maltby
North American Region
Richard Nicol (Interim Chair)
David Peeace
North American Region
Holly Tucker
North American Region
CAndrew Lawrence
Pacific Region
USA
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE Claire Johnson DC, MS, PhD (Chair)
SECRETARIAT Richard Brown DC, LL.M (Secretary General) Khalid Salim (Finance & Administration Manager) Sarah Villarba (Administrative Assistant)
USA
Switzerland
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6 SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE
Individualized, compassionate care: at the heart of EBP Richard Brown, WFC Secretary-General Oliver Wendell Holmes was a professor of anatomy and physiology and a dean at Harvard Medical School. During his career, he was meticulous about data, and was credited with the transformation of opinion and strong personal bias into scientific objectivity. However, in his later years, Holmes questioned his powerful advocacy for science in medicine as being all important. He recognized, in retrospect, that in his pursuit of science he had overlooked the importance of advocating that each individual patient be treated with artful, comforting compassion. I have often spoken about the clever-smart-wise continuum of clinical practice. When we graduate, our minds are crammed with facts and knowledge. We have taken, and passed, numerous examinations and we are deemed capable of being unleashed on the unsuspecting public. We are clever, but we are far from being the finished article. As we progress through clinical practice we become more experienced and learn how to apply our knowledge
and skills. We witness how patients respond differently to the same forms of care and we come to better understand the uncertainty of healthcare. We have transitioned from being clever to being smart. But the best clinicians are neither just clever nor smart. The best clinicians have become wise. In the practice of their art, they must maintain knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and diagnosis. However, wise clinicians have honed their expertise still further, and have recognized that it is not simply intelligence, but emotional intelligence that differentiates the doctors who patients will travel hours to see, with whom they will develop strong relationships, and who they will trust because they are treated compassionately as individuals. David Sackett, the father of evidence-based practice, spoke of the thoughtful identification and compassionate use of individual patients' predicaments, rights and preferences in making clinical decisions about their care. Rarely is it in the interests of
patients and the public when the pendulum swings too far in either direction. Tyranny reigns when health care practitioners are constrained by directives to only employ evidence from randomized controlled trials. At the other extreme, the abdication of any regard for science and the outcomes of high quality research plunges us into the hopeless abyss of pseudoscience and quackery. The coronavirus pandemic has brutally brought into focus the core facets of health physical, mental and social well-being - and exposed the need to ensure the pendulum remains steady. As society faces the biggest challenge of our lifetimes, we owe it to our patients more than ever to be mindful of their individual needs, preferences and expectations in committing to the delivery of outstanding evidence-based care.
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CONTACTING THE WFC Write to us: World Federation of Chiropractic 160 Eglinton Avenue East (Suite 601) Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5, Canada Call us: +1 416 484 9978 Email us: General enquiries
info@wfc.org
Richard Brown
rbrown@wfc.org
Khalid Salim
ksalim@wfc.org
Sarah Villarba
svillarba@wfc.org
NEWS ITEMS The WFC welcomes news items, digital images and feature stories to include in the QWR. Send all submissions QWR@wfc.org. Please note all submissions may be subject to editing.
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WFC to launch new WOC podcast series The WFC has announced that it will soon be launching a new podcast series. The series, titled World of Chiropractic (WOC) will feature guests from each of the WFC's 7 world regions and will focus on the diversity of the profession, with national association leaders, educational experts, world-renowned researchers, student leaders and other prominent figures from the chiropractic profession. The WOC series will be hosted by Dr Rebekah Wilks. Dr Wilks, a graduate of the University of Western States, is currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs working in Florida. Dr Wilks has global experience as an on-board television studio director and producer for Food and Wine Magazine onboard Holland America Cruise Lines. Dr Wilks has experience working with the WFC, having served on the organizing committee for the past two World Spine Day campaigns.
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Dr Rebekah Wilks, host of the WOC podcast series
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Leading academic named as WFC Research Committee Interim Chair One of the world?s most respected chiropractic researchers has been named as Interim Chair of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) Research Committee. Professor Christine Goertz DC, PhD has served on the committee as Vice-Chair since 2015 and steps up to chair the committee at an exciting time in the WFC?s history. She is joined on the committee by Research Committee Chair Emeritus Dr Scott Haldeman DC, MD, PhD, widely regarded as the foremost international authority on spine pain, and veteran researcher, Dr Mitch Haas DC, MA. The appointment comes shortly after the WFC reaffirmed its commitment to science, research and evidence-based practice within its relaunched 20 Principles document. Speaking after Dr Goertz was announced as Interim Chair, WFC Secretary-General Dr Richard Brown said: ?Dr Goertz has for many years been an invaluable resource on the WFC Research Council. She brings a wealth of experience to the role and champions the importance of patient-oriented, clinically-relevant research. "As the profile of chiropractic continues to grow, the expectations of patients and the public require chiropractors to commit to lifelong learning in a way that keeps them up to date with developments in guideline recommendations from scientific research. Through our Research Committee, we are committed to supporting the profession in this endeavor.? Dr Goertz is a Professor in Musculoskeletal Research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Director of System Development and Coordination for Spine Health in the
Dr Christine Goertz, DC, PhD
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Spine Institute for Quality and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. For 11 years, Dr Goertz served as Vice Chancellor of Research and Health Policy at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Dr. Goertz received her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1991 and her Ph.D. in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in 1999.
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Leading academic named as WFC Research Committee Interim Chair (continued) Her 30-year research career has focused on working with multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement clinical and health services research studies designed to increase knowledge regarding the effectiveness and cost of patient-centered, non-pharmacological treatments for spine-related disorders. Dr Goertz commented: ?I am honored to be stepping up to chair the WFC Research Committee at this time. "It is critical that research is stakeholder driven and that chiropractors are supported in understanding the relevance of emerging research in the context of providing care to patients and the public. ?My work at PCORI involves funding studies that help patients and those who care for them make better informed healthcare choices. Current evidence supports non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical approaches for most forms of spinal pain and disability. I?m committed to supporting WFC member national associations in communicating the value of evidence-based practice and guideline implementation.? Dr. Goertz has received nearly $32M in federal funding as either principal investigator or co-principal investigator, primarily from NIH and the Department of Defense, and co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers. Dr. Goertz currently serves as a Member of the Inter-agency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC), the Bone and Joint Initiative Low Back Pain Task Force, the CDC Opioid Workgroup and is Chairperson of the Board of Governors for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The WFC Research Committee is a body of scientific experts that advises the WFC Board on matters relevant to chiropractic and
neuromusculoskeletal health care research. This includes quality outcomes, methodology and clinical relevance. The committee also serves as a resource for research-related questions from the WFC?s constituent member national associations. Additionally, the Research Committee is responsible for designing the scientific track of the WFC?s Biennial Congress. This includes establishing criteria for the call for papers, judging submissions and presenting awards in relation to such calls. In recent years, the Research Committee has established the WFC Suggested Reading List, an open-access, curated repository of scientific papers covering a wide range of subject areas. The WFC would like to place on record its thanks to the Immediate Past Chair of the Research Committee, Professor Greg Kawchuk for his years of outstanding service to the WFC and to other former Research Committee members Dr Iben Axen, Dr Martin Descarreaux, Dr Simon French, Professor Jan Hartvigsen and Dr Carolina Kolberg. As part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the WFC will be seeking to recruit scientists and researchers to the Research Committee who will bring expertise in a range of specialist areas from around the world.
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WFC publishes revised 20 Principles For over 30 years, the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has been at the forefront of the global development of chiropractic. Representing the interests of the profession in over 90 countries worldwide, the WFC defends, promotes and advocates for the profession across its 7 world regions. The publication of the WFC's 20 Principles set out the guiding values that drive our work. Our Strategic Plan 2019-2022, approved unanimously at the 2019 WFC Assembly of Members in Berlin, sets out four key pillars: support, empowerment, promotion and advancement. In achieving our goals, we are aware of the diversity of ways in which chiropractors serve their patients, which is often driven by social determinants of health, culture and philosophy of healthcare delivery. The plan is the product of a careful analysis of our strengths and priorities and a desire to ensure that it has relevance and meaning to our members and stakeholders. These 20 Principles explain what we stand for. They articulate our commitment to advance and develop the chiropractic profession for the benefit of patients and the public and to represent the interests of our national association members around the world. The 20 Principles encapsulate our vision, mission and values and re-commit to the WFC's longstanding support of the EPIC pillars: evidence-based, people-centered, interprofessional and collaborative. They
cover the WFC's commitment to high standards of science, research, education, professional conduct, and lifelong learning. They advocate for mentorship and reinforce the role of chiropractors in public health. The WFC 20 Principles are designed for the entire profession, regardless of practice style, background or philosophy. They are for the many, not for the few and we hope that they will guide, support and empower the profession throughout the world. The WFC 20 Principles document can be accessed at wfc.org/principles.
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WFC World Spine Day competition seeks innovation with 'Back On Track' theme World Spine Day takes place October 16 every year and 2020 is no exception!
activity and a healthy lifestyle.
This year, the theme of World Spine Day is Back On Track.
In association with our friends at Foot Levelers, we are again hosting our World Spine Day competition.
COVID-19 has meant that more people have experienced back pain and neck pain. Often, they have become deconditioned and this makes them more vulnerable to injury and pain.
By organizing a campaign, event or initiative for World Spine Day, we encourage every chiropractor to get involved in what is the largest spine-focused day of action in the World! We are looking for innovation, originality and creativity in entries. Make an impact in your community and demonstrate your commitment to public health by advocating for healthier spines and getting people Back On Track! With cash prizes in the categories of National Association, Educational Institution and Private Individual/Clinic, everyone has a chance to win! To find out more, visit the World Spine Day website at worldspineday.org. Entries must be submitted by November 15 and winners will be announced in the January 2021 issue of the Quarterly World Report.
Recognizing the challenges that people have faced, whether a result of working from home, a lack of outside exercise or during recovery from coronavirus itself, this World Spine Day we are encouraging everyone to get Back On Track. World Spine Day is an opportunity for people to reset and reactivate stiff joints and tired spines by committing to physical
worldspineday.org
WORLD SPINE DAY COMPETITION PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
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WFC recommends WHO guidelines for use of personal protective equipment (PPE) Claire Johnson, Chair, WFC Public Health Committee Chiropractors continue to help their patients and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As the chiropractic profession navigates its way through the evolving situation, the WFC Public Health Committee looks to the World Health Organization (WHO) for information about safe public health practices. Therefore, the WFC recommends that chiropractors should turn to WHO guidelines for safe practices, including preventive measures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with patients. These actions will help to reduce risk of spreading illness, including COVID-19, and to reassure chiropractic patients about hygienic efforts that practitioners and their office staff
are providing for them in their chiropractic practices. Chiropractors should adhere to local regulations and governmental requirements as they apply this information in practice. Several resources are available for practitioners on WHO?s website. Due to concerns about shortages of PPE that have strained the healthcare system, the following document is available: Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages, which was published on April 6, 2020 and can be found here. In addition, the Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19, which was published on June 5, 2020, can be found here. Patients often ask questions and are looking for reliable information about mask use. WHO has a helpful web page that informs patients and the public when and how to use masks. Chiropractors can make this information available in their communications with patients (see here).
WHO graphic on Personal Protective Equipment
As health care professionals, chiropractors recognize that information during a disaster or pandemic is ever changing and will continue to be updated as new studies are published. This is why the WFC recommends using WHO guidelines, since WHO is a reliable scientific source of information and will continue to update their recommendations with new information as it becomes available.
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15 WFC NEWS
From the Boardroom The WFC Board of Directors met on August 18, 2020 via teleconference. The meeting was Chaired by WFC President Dr Vivian Kil. Minutes of the previous meeting of the Board, held on May 7-8, 2020, were adopted. New Zealan d Ch ir opr act ic Associat ion The Board noted with regret the withdrawal from WFC membership of the New Zealand Chiropractic Association following a resolution at its annual general meeting. The hope was expressed that the NZCA would return promptly to membership in the future. Lu xem bou r g Ch ir opr act ic Associat ion The Board noted receipt of a valid application for membership from the Luxembourg Chiropractic Association and approved this for submission to the Annual Meeting of Members. Collegio de Pr of esion aist a Cien t if ico-Qu ir opr act icos de M exico The Board noted receipt of a notice of withdrawal from membership from the WFC member for Mexico (CPCQM). Gover n an ce The Board approved role descriptions for Board members and the President and a Board member code of conduct. It approved a revised Complaints Policy and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. A document entitled Rights and Responsibilities of WFC Members was also approved.
Fin an ce The financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2019 were approved by the Board. The Board considered and approved a revised budget for 2020 taking into account the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. Wor ld Spin e Day The Board noted the theme for World Spine Day, 'Back on Track' to be held October 16, and noted with gratitude the activities of its international organizing committee. For t h com in g Even t s The Board noted progress in respect of the 2021 WFC Biennial Congress, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 2022 Education Conference, to be held in the United States. Following receipt of a bid submission from the Australian Chiropractors Association, the Board unanimously approved Gold Coast, Australia as the venue for the 2023 WFC Biennial Congress. Ext er n al Relat ion s The Secretary-General reported that since the date of the last meeting he had been in contact with the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS), International Chiropractic Sports Federation (FICS), the American Black Chiropractors Association (ABCA), the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) and numerous member national associations.
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17 COVER STORY
Inspiring a generation: new ABCA President vows to promote visibility and integration. Dr Micheala Edwards is the newly-elected president of the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA). She spoke extensively to Richard Brown on being a black chiropractor in 2020 and her vision for the future. Micheala Edwards never set out to be a chiropractor. Growing up as an athlete, with a father who was a professional football player with the Houston Oilers, her life revolved around sport until injuries and an aversion to surgery halted her career. She went back to school and was enjoying a successful career in personal training until a fateful encounter which was to change her life. "I had a friend whose husband was at Parker University," she explains. "One day, I went into her house. My nose was blocked and my eyes were itchy and streaming as a result of chronic allergies. I was talked into having an adjustment, my cervicals were adjusted and I felt something happening immediately. Within two minutes I could breathe. I was amazed. From that point on, I started getting chiropractic care and my allergies resolved themselves." Micheala was instantly interested in chiropractic and after successfully completing the matriculation program at Parker she embarked on her chiropractic doctorate degree at Logan University. "I loved my time at Logan," says Micheala. "I felt instantly at home on the campus and there was no doubt at that time that
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Inspiring a generation: new ABCA President vows to promote visibility and integration. (continued) Logan was going places with its state-of-the-art training." Micheala had no idea of the demographics of the profession when she started at Logan and it came as a bit of a shock. "There were 76 in my class. I was the only black person and I was one of only eight women. I had no clue that chiropractic was mostly men, and even less clue that there were so few black chiropractors. I had to become a student of my environment as much as a student of chiropractic." Being in a minority was not new to Micheala, who had until that time worked in corporate
America, which was similarly under-represented. However, she was not deterred. "I never felt that my situation was a struggle," she says. "For me, it was about embracing opportunities. The way I looked at it was that I may be the only black women in a profession run by white guys, but I was determined that I could do it just as well if not better and I just resolved to go for it." Micheala exceeded all requirements for patient numbers during her clinical year. Working part-time as an athletic trainer in Ferguson, Missouri, she embedded herself
in a predominantly black community and quickly won the trust of the sporting youngsters and their parents. Yet this reputation brought some unexpected approaches. "I started getting approached by white chiropractors who wanted to bring me in to treat the people they weren't attracting," she explains. "These were athletes and students coming from the urban core. They saw me as their route in to a new patient population. "Well, I decided I didn't need that kind of set up and that, in fact, I didn't need to partner with anyone."
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Inspiring a generation: new ABCA President vows to promote visibility and integration. (continued) Micheala very quickly built a thriving clinic built around sport and athletics and at the same time became involved with the ABCA. She realized early into her career that black chiropractors were near-invisible in the profession. "There's no real attitude either way towards black chiropractors because we're just not seen we're out of sight and out of mind. There is just no idea to what extent black chiropractors exist." Micheala suspects that there might be a growing realization that there are black chiropractors because of images in college prospectuses showing black students yet the visibility remains low.
"A lot of us are in the business of treating our communities, but we're not in the spotlight because the spotlight doesn't come to our communities" Micheala sees the challenge in ensuring that there is greater awareness of chiropractic and black chiropractors in black communities. She comments, "People in the black community don't know what chiropractic entails so therefore don't seek out chiropractors. And if the black community doesn't see chiropractors, then black students aren't going to enroll on chiropractic programs. What we have at the moment is a small trickle of black students but nowhere near enough working in black communities. "We need to start and maintain a cycle where black people utilize chiropractors, chiropractic grows and we start to see integration. We also need black chiropractors getting in front of the masses, giving talks and spreading the message. Our goal is to normalize the vision of chiropractic as containing black and minority faces." The ABCA was founded by Dr Bobby Westbrook in 1981. After brainstorming with friends about the issues facing black chiropractors they realized they had to start a coalition and the ABCA was formed. Now, the organization boasts around 250
members. Micheala admits there's still a long way to go. "Of around 70,000 chiropractors in the U.S., the number of black and minority ethnic chiropractors is 13-17%. We have around 1% of these as members, so clearly we have to recruit more. " Micheala is quick to point out that the ABCA is not just for black chiropractors. "We accept anyone who supports furthering the interests of black chiropractors in the U.S. Our mission states that if you support black people or minorities then you can join." Micheala is clear on her objectives for the ABCA. "We need to focus on integration and on improving outcomes of persons of color entering the chiropractic profession. This means helping schools to recruit, encouraging camaraderie and having black chiropractors in education and research. My vision is a profession that no longer needs the ABCA!" Micheala is keen to see more black chiropractors in leadership positions. She says, "We want organizations and schools to send us job requisites so we can put people forward. As we increase visibility, people will realize we're here and ready to serve."
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21 WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Danish researcher appointed consultant to WHO ahead of LBP guideline World-class research and chiropractor, Professor Jan Hartvigsen has been appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist with preparations for a proposal for a WHO Guideline on the management of low back pain. The work consists of writing of a background paper, formulation of questions to be addressed in the guideline, definition of outcomes to be considered and assessed, suggesting and participating in composition of the guideline development group and advisory group, participation in meetings with WHO staff and potential sponsors and finally in making contacts to academics globally who can assist in the work with
systematic reviews and meta analyses. The proposal, which will follow established WHO guideline development methodology, is projected to be completed by the end of the year so the work with the guideline can commence in early 2021.
Professor Jan Hartvigsen
Professor Hartvigsen's role after this initial phase has not been decided, but he hopes to be continue his involvement in the guideline process. The work with the guideline is projected to last 3-4 years and will involve multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evidence from hundreds of scientific papers that will lead to formulation of official WHO recommendations.
Professor Hartvigsen commented, ?I am absolutely delighted to be working with the very dedicated WHO staff in preparing the protocol and establishing working groups for a WHO Guideline for the Management of Low Back Pain. I am grateful that the World Federation of Chiropractic has helped to establish the contact between the WHO, the University of Southern Denmark and myself ?.
Pierre Côté selected by WHO to lead COVID review team Epidemiologist and chiropractor Professor Pierre Côté has been appointed by WHO to lead a collaborative team that advises key individuals about trends and issues related to COVID-19.
latest breakthroughs on research and therapeutics, major advances in knowledge and challenges to previously held positions, clinical updates and epidemiology and public health trends.
Professor Côté, who is the Canada Chair in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, is responsible for reviewing and producing the daily COVID-19 Research Digest.
Dr Côté commented: "?The Daily Digest we compile provides end-users at WHO with rapid access to the exploding range of new literature from key publications of primary
The Digest will compile the
research related to COVID-19. The report ensures public health experts are apprised of the latest findings around the globe.?
Professor Pierre Côté
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Chiropractic education leader part of WHO competency-based education development Over the past 18 months, the WHO Global Health Workforce Network (GHWN) Education Hub has been working on the development of a Global Competency Framework for Universal Health Coverage: Addressing population health needs through competency-based education. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is part of the Sustainable Development Goals, with the objective to address health disparity and inequity and the expectation that all countries will have implemented UHC by 2030. This can only be achieved through strong health systems and health workers who are educated, empowered and competent to provide quality health care. The WHO believes
that establishing global standards, grounded in primary care,will provide a competency-based foundation for educational training programs, regulators and policy makers to follow, ensuring that health workers have basic minimum competencies to deliver integrated, people-centered care within UHC models.
chiropractic world. Dr Kopansky-Giles is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and a professor at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
On behalf of the World Federation of Chiropractic, Professor Deborah Kopansky-Giles, a member of the WHO GHWN Education Hub, has been participating in the framework?s development on an iterative basis. The WHO expects to release the framework in early 2021 and the WFC will ensure that this is broadly disseminated to the Dr Deborah Kopansky-Giles
UN launches initiative to combat COVID-19 misinformation The United Nations (UN) has launched a Communications Response Initiative to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative follows a resolution passed at the World Health Assembly in May 2020 that urges Member States to combat what is being referred to as an infodemic which promotes harmful misinformation, polarizes public debate and erodes trust.
WFC Secretary-General Richard Brown commented, "As health professionals, chiropractors have a moral and ethical duty not to spread misinformation and undermine the trust in the global public health efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. At a time of heightened concern, we expect our national association members to support evidence-based public health messages and deal robustly with conduct that adversely affects global efforts or misleads patients and the public."
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Logan to co-host women's health symposium with ACA Logan University will be hosting the second Women's Health Symposium with the American Chiropractic Association. With many chiropractors recognizing the importance of bespoke approaches to female patients, the symposium responds to a growing need for continuing education directed specifically at women's health. Open to all health professionals who want to learn more about treating the female patient, this year's event features respected speakers providing enlightening and practical information on women's health, from mediation,
yoga and stress relief to labs, radiology, pain reduction and so much more. The 12-hour program is presented online in conjunction with the ACA Council on Women's Health and will be available on-demand October 17 through December 18, 2020. The symposium will cover a wide range of subject areas to empower and inspire chiropractors in their treatment of female patients. Speakers include Dr Kristina Petrocco-Napuli, Dr Cindy Howard, Dr Alicia Yochum, Dr Karen Erikson and Dr Katie
Wonders. The symposium provides up to 12 hours of continuing education credits. Attendees must register online, by phone (1-800-842-3234) or by post (Logan University, Postgraduate Department, 1851 Schoettler Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017.) by December 15, 2020 to access the symposium. To receive the Early Bird Tuition Rate, attendees must register by October 3, 2020. For more information about the symposium, click here.
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CCA providing support to new graduate chiropractors When COVID-19 shut down Canada and the world in early 2020, chiropractic students set to graduate suddenly faced unique challenges, the largest being their inability to get licenses until December 2020 at the earliest. For Junmo Lee, a 2020 Canadian Memorial Chiropractic graduate, this has been a year of uncertainty. ?We lost the last two months of clinical internship and wouldn?t have known where to look for help,? he says. ?But the CCA is
Em ot ion al Su ppor t The Class of 2020 needed a meeting place to feel connected and supported.We created a CCA Responds: Private Class of 2020 Facebook Group that allowed real-time interaction. Graduates posted messages, got questions answered and discussed what was on their minds. Two hundred and seventy-six have joined the group. The CCA held a live webinar on April 28 where the Class of 2020 could connect directly with our CEO, Alison Dantas. To show the Class of 2020 that we are in their corner, we held regular Facebook Live sessions to share updates about temporary licenses and the delayed examinations. Grads needed to increase their knowledge in areas such as understanding contracts, business and financial planning, as well as marketing. To meet that need, the CCA launched the Chironomics program in June. It includes: ¡Weekly tips on business practice delivered via Facebook Live ¡An eight-session webinar series that has had more than 500 registrations
Dr Junmo Lee, 2020 CMCC graduate
looking out for new graduates ? providing resources and advocating for us. It?s been reassuring during these difficult times knowing that someone has our backs.? ?The Class of 2020 was graduating during such an unprecedented time with so much uncertainty,? says Dr. Ayla Azad, CCA Director of Professional Practice, ?We had to reach out and help them, whether they were from a Canadian program or overseas, and let them know they?re part of the chiropractic family.? The CCA identified four areas where we could make a difference.
?I learned so much about the business side of being a chiropractor,? says Junmo. ?I never would have learned that information if it weren?t for the CCA. I had no business background. Now, I?m prepared.? Advocacy The CCA is uniquely placed to speak to governments and regulatory colleges across Canada about helpful changes for all graduates, regardless of where they studied .
25 EDUCATION NEWS
CCA providing support to new graduate chiropractors (continued) That is why, in the spring, we contacted licensing and regulatory bodies across Canada to advocate for temporary licensure to ease their path to full practice. That was important, but more was needed. Five provinces that agreed to some form of temporary licensure in the summer. Grads had to be connected to chiropractors to get licensure. That is why we set up a job board in August to connect chiropractors in those provinces with grads. We told our members about how they could help, and 16 chiropractors agreed to participate in the first week. Tech n ical Sk ills The CCA offers grads ongoing skill development through online resources and webinars. These are the same ones offered to members as part of our support for them during the pandemic. Ready f or w h at ?s ah ead The months ahead will have more twists and turns. Our goal, identified in the first days of the pandemic, is to help 2020 grads fully transition into practice in 2021. No other group of graduates have had to face the challenges they face ? and the CCA has been there for them and will continue to do so. ?Throughout the pandemic, the CCA has been really clear about what they do for members and new graduates,? says Junmo. ?I think we all got a sense of where the CCA stands, how much advocacy they do for us, and that they?re here to support us.? For more information about the CCA, visit their website at www.chiropractic.ca
More accolades for Parker University In 2020, the Dallas Business Journal recognized Parker University as the fourth-fastest growing college in Texas. According to the American City Business Journal, the university is the fastest-growing college in Dallas. Earlier this year, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges announced that the Parker University Board of Trustees was one of six boards chosen to receive the 2019-2020 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership. The Nason Award, established in 1992, is presented with TIAAÂŽ to higher education boards that demonstrate excellent leadership and initiative. The Nason Award honors leader John W. Nason, who served as the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council chair and helped more than 4,000 interned students continue college studies across the nation during World War II.Among 30 nominations, Parker University was chosen to receive this prestigious award highlighting critical work performed by boards representing public and private institutions, statewide systems, and institutionally related foundations. The university has most recently been recognized as one of 79 colleges and universities deemed a Great College to Work ForÂŽ. Based on employee engagement survey results, the Great Colleges to Work ForÂŽprogram identified Parker University?s workplace as one that has excelled in three different categories, including Compensation and Benefits, Respect and Appreciation, and Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship.
26 EDUCATION NEWS
Virtual graduation sees SDU students celebrated by Danish health care leaders Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Summer 2020 graduation ceremony for the graduating Danish chiropractic students was not the traditional festive event with speeches by notabilities from the chiropractic world in a beautifully adorned auditorium full of friends and family, followed by a reception. Instead the graduation was an insight into how things could be in the future, as the graduation was held online. The traditional welcome speech by the Dean of the Faculty of Health at the University of Southern Denmark, Ole Skøtt, was delivered from a room at the university to the students, who were online at home. Ole Skøtt talked about the responsibilities of the new chiropractors as valuable members of the health system; to go out and be contributing chiropractors, delivering evidence-based care and wished the new chiropractors well in their future jobs. After the Dean?s speech, the Head and Vice-head of Studies at the at Clinical Biomechanics at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical
Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark, Henrik Hein Lauridsen, and Anne Mølgaard Nielsen, awarded the graduation diploma to each of the students by calling out each student?s name; the actual diplomas were sent by mail to the students. The graduation speech was delivered by Henrik Wulff Christensen, Managing Director and Head of Research at the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, who used the increased use of online technology due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the point of departure for his speech. Henrik Wulff Christensen began by outlining what it means to work in a chiropractic and the consequences of the pandemic in relation to this work. Furthermore, he pointed out how unique it was that the graduation could be conducted online instead of being canceled altogether and continued to speak of the role of digitalization in the chiropractor ?s workday. He talked about how the news chiropractors can contribute to the development and modernization of chiropractic
and called for the collection of more data to document this development and modernization and urged the graduates to use their knowledge and skills for the good of society and document this knowledge through data. Digitalization and new technology, said Henrik Wulff Christensen mentioning AI specifically is the future but also a challenge, because patients are gaining more knowledge and the chiropractors?authority is under pressure. Hence, chiropractors must seek new ways of determining their authority; gain he patients?trust and use empathy, insight and academic skills in order to become good academic craftsmen, Henrik Wulff Christensen concluded before congratulating the graduates. His graduation speech with English subtitles can be found here. All that remained after the graduation speech was for Dean Ole Skøtt to end the historical graduation ceremony by also congratulating the new chiropractors.
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28 EDUCATION NEWS
New York Chiropractic College August 2020 Commencement and Transitions Ceremonies Celebrate Students The 2020 graduates of New York Chiropractic College were celebrated during the College?s first-ever online Commencement ceremony on August 1, 2020. Friends, family and members of the NYCC community watched online as degrees were virtually conferred to 74 Doctor of Chiropractic students and 111 Master of Science degree students. Master ?s students graduated from programs including Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Human Anatomy and Physiology Instruction, Applied Clinical Nutrition, Diagnostic Imaging and Clinical Anatomy. Awards for excellence in community service, leadership and clinical practice were virtually presented to students by NYCC President Dr. Michael Mestan, who also delivered welcoming and closing remarks. ?Congratulations to each of you. Today the health science
professions gains a very promising new addition. Your future clients, patients and students will be fortunate to have you as a mentor and a partner in their quest for health and knowledge,? said Dr. Mestan. Dr Mestan continued to say, ?I am proud of you, I have confidence in you. And I now send you out in the world to lead, to make your own opportunities, to make life better for others and find joy in serving humanity. Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for your next adventure.? Many faculty and staff also provided a special video message for the graduates. Depew Health Center Administrator Dr. Ana Stearns said, ?We are living in unprecedented times and you have been chosen to help restore the quality of life of our community.? Professor Dr. Dennis Homack told students, ?We?re all very proud that you
NYCC President, Dr MIchael Mestan, addresses the class of 2020
represent our profession and we?re equally as proud that you represent New York Chiropractic College.? Associate Professor Dr. Ilija Arar ?s inspirational and fun farewell even offered a wardrobe change. Seventh-trimester Doctor of Chiropractic students were celebrated during the Transitions Ceremony on July 31 in NYCC?s Delevan Theater. The safely distanced, invite-only event honored the achievements of the 28 Chiropractic students, and was available for family and friends to view via Livestream.The event recognizes the achievements of the 7th trimester students by honoring them with their white coats as they embark on the clinical phase of their education. Awards were presented to recognize members of the class for achievements in academic and clinical excellence, and keynote Dr. John Hyland, chief technical adviser for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, addressed the students in a special video message.
7th trimester students at their Transitions Ceremony
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CDAHK Chair in talks with IMU to build chiropractic capacity in Asia Dr Toh Chooi Gait PhD, Pro-Vice Chancellor of International Medical University in Malaysia (IMU), Dr Abu Baker Suleiman MD (Chairman of IMU and past Director-General of Health in the Malaysian Ministry of Health),and Dr Eric Chu DC (Chairman of CDAHK and CBO of Union Medical Healthcare) met in May and discussed the needs of chiropractic education in industry and how Hong Kong professional leaders can assist in enhancing the educational quality at the IMU. They entered into an agreement with respect to 24 scholarships to induce outstanding chiropractic students in booming future chiropractic leaders in Asia. Dr Chu says that his team will invest over 1.8M USD in the graduates?professional development and training in the next 3 years. The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to work on teams who managed the most complicated clinical conditions in the city ? across the pediatric, athlete, and geriatric population ? solve some of their most difficult problems. They will also work with a range of 100 medical experts in Hong Kong, from laboratory scientists to medical specialists to software engineers.
Dr Eric Chu with Dr Toh Chooi Gait, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the International Medical University, Malaysia.
The associates also have the opportunity to present results to patient management and implement recommendations in collaboration with medical team members. They will also receive guidance and support in the selection of corporate projects with local business-school management trainee, helping them to develop business and leadership skills.
BCC radiology professor awarded Fellowship by European Academy of Chiropractic Dr. Marshall Deltoff, DACBR, FCCR(C), professor of radiology at Barcelona College of Chiropractic, was recently named as a Fellow of the European Academy of Chiropractic. ? I am honored by this Dr Marshall Deltoff, BCC radiology professor
special recognition by my colleagues?, exclaimed Dr. Deltoff, ?and I look forward to contributing for many more years to the academic, clinical and legislative advancement of chiropractic on this side of
the Atlantic?. Marshall was also named to the editorial board of the Journal of Orthopaedic Science and Research, his tenth editorial board appointment.
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Swiss aim to recruit more chiropractic students In early September, the University of Zurich held its study information days ? online. Chiropractic was one of many study courses that could be presented on the digital platform. Balgrist University Hospital and ChiroSuisse organized a virtual booth. Young students who are about to graduate from high school have to decide what they want to study. To help them with their choice of studies, universities and high schools organize so-called study information days. Around these study information days, the ChiroSuisse recruitment campaign "ChiroRecruit" starts. ?ChiroRecruit? is a professionally designed social media campaign that targets young people (16-23y.). The aim is to make high school graduates aware of the great career opportunities of chiropractic. To reach them ChiroSuisse developed information material in all three official languages, and places social ads, mobile display ads and audio ads on channels like Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook. Normally ChiroSuisse is also present at the information days with a booth that is in the same look of the campaign.
Vir t u al st u dy in f or m at ion days The University of Zurich kicks off the season of the study information days.Due to corona the days were held virtually. The virtual booth was also designed in the look of the campaign and displayed all the material such as videos, pictures, links etc. In a specially for this day produced podcast two young chiropractors explained the course of study of chiropractic. There were four live chats of 45 minutes where
questions form future students were answered. The result is satisfactory: about 20 people took part in each chat, 28 orders for free information material arrived and over 100 people filled in the quiz. Since no personal encounters were possible, it was most important to get the e-mail addresses of interested young people. This is the only to inform them later about further steps and actions to be taken (i.e. Info-Apero, free self-assessment test, registration date etc.). 19 n ew st u den t s st ar t 2020 Last year ChiroSuisse reached out to some 300 interested people. More than 70 signed up for Chiropractic studies. 30% passed the strict admission test for medicine. 19 students decided to start their Chiropractic studies this autumn. The goal for the years to come is to increase this number significantly.
Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
With financial contributions from various supporters, ChiroSuisse will be able to continuously develop the campaign and ensure a sustainable growth of the profession. Information provided by Charlotte Schlaepfer, ChiroSuisse
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NWHSU receives $1m grant to support holistic healing center In August, Northwestern Health Sciences University received a grant of $1m from the Harry and Jan Sweere Foundation. The grant is given in recognition of Dr Joseph and Mary Sweere's significant contributions to health, wellness and the chiropractic profession. Directed to primarily support the work of the Sweere Clinic, a holistic healing center, the $1 million grant will provide a vital bridge
to the future, supporting the vision for the H.C. Sweere Center for Clinical Biomechanics and Applied Ergonomics, and allowing time for the Sweere Clinic to become self-sustaining. The Sweere Clinic opened to the public on July 14 on NWHSU?s Bloomington campus. ?The opening of this state-of-the-art healing center would never have been possible
without the combined vision of Dr. Sweere and the financial contributions of the Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation,? said Deb Bushway, Ph.D., president and CEO at NWHSU. ?It is our honor to further recognize Dr. Sweere?s legacy through our commitment to improve the healthcare system through personalized healing and improved outcomes.?
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33 EDUCATION NEWS
Life West celebrates success of online WAVE conference "Life West couldn't be more thrilled about the WAVE. After having to pivot quickly to an inline format, our internal and external community came together to hit a home run!"
Life Chiropractic College West held its annual conference, The WAVE, online for the first time in August 2020. College President, Dr Ron Oberstein, was delighted with the outcome.
Nine live sessions took place Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, with three speakers taking the virtual stage each day. Life West faculty member Dan Murphy, DC headlined the first day of presentations with a look at spine pain and the chiropractic adjustment. His
session focused on the latest research around chiropractic and overall wellness. ?With over 1,100 people in attendance, along with vendors and sponsors who see the bigger picture to support the profession and practitioner, I am so proud to witness how the virtual WAVE changed the playing field,? Dr. Oberstein said. ?My greatest gratitude goes to all of our phenomenal speakers, MCs and supporters.?
LIFE University partners with UNESCO to host Compassionate Integrity Training LIFE University's Center for Compassion, Integrity and Secular Ethics, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development and the Charter for Compassion hosted nearly 4000 participants on September 21, the UN International Day of Peace for a Compassionate Integrity Training Global Lesson in Social and Emotional Learning (CIT). CIT is a multi-part training program that cultivates basic human values as skills for the purpose of increasing individual, social and environmental flourishing. The program on September 21 focused on CIT's Skill One: Calming Body and Mind. The skill trains participants in the connection between body and mind, the meaning of the resilient zone and its relation to the autonomic nervous system, and techniques to gain a state of
equilibrium. Just under 400 people took part in a Zoom training and nearly 4,000 watched the livestream. The day also marked the launch of a new self-directed version of Compassionate Integrity Training developed in partnership with UNESCO-MGIEP. A self-directed version of CIT is available for enrollment by visiting LIFE.edu/SEL. The full three-series program takes approximately 20 to 40 hours to complete.
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Bursary transforms opportunities for South African chiropractic student My name is Bongeka Caluza, a young woman who is God fearing, career oriented and an enterprising person. I am a young vibrant woman who always sees the good in every situation and always put people first. My life mission is to help people where I can and to give hope to the hopeless with the little I have. I am a student studying master ?s degree (M.Tech) in Chiropractic at Durban University of Technology. I am a well dedicated person who is extremely passionate about studying, I come from a disadvantaged background and I am the first person in my family to make it to university. I grew up in a rural area where there was no electricity nor running tap water; we used to fetch water from the river and fetch firewood from the bush in order to be able to do basic things like cooking. I have always wanted to help in treating children with musculoskeletal problems because people in my community were exposed to back problems and other musculoskeletal condition due to the fact that they had to do lots of houses chores, care for their family, fetch firewood and water etc. The main reason I chose to study chiropractic is that it deals with the natural way of treating without the use of medication. My main goal is to mentor and empower young girls from a disadvantaged background, become a public intellectual, and to become the best chiropractor. My journey has not been easy, I have faced many challenges along the way. One of the challenges I have faced include that fact that I had to work part-time in order to pay for my tuition fees, another challenge was how exhausting and hard the course was, sometimes I never used to sleep or spend time with my family because I needed to study for a test or exam. I also had to sacrifice my time to do household chores which was the biggest challenge towards my education. I had to study and do my best because my education was my first priority. I was brought up by a single parent, but my dedication and devotion kept
Bongeka Caluza, chiropractic student
me motivated to deal with all the challenges and struggles. Last year I was offered a bursary by Chiropractic Association of South Africa, this bursary changed my life because I had outstanding tuition fees and if I did not get it then I was not going to be able to finish my studies. Once I qualify, I want to gain more knowledge from other chiropractors with many years of clinical experience. I will do so by working as a locum/associate chiropractor in the first three years after graduating. Once I have gained knowledge my main goal will be to open my own private practice and make chiropractic treatment available to all individuals from different backgrounds.
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SAVE THE DATE
16TH WORLD FEDERATION OF CHIROPRACTIC BIENNIAL CONGRESS HOSTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CHIROPRACTIC MALAYSIA SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2021 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
For our 2021 WFC Biennial Congress we head to Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur. WFC Congresses are a true celebration of chiropractic, bringing together clinicians, researchers, students, political leaders and academics from around the world. Boasting gleaming skyscrapers, colonial architecture, charming locals and a myriad of natural attractions, Kuala Lumpur really is an unmissable destination.
wfc.org/congress2021
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World-class plenary speakers Stimulating debates Ground-breaking research Inspiring workshops International networking Exhibition hall Social program
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CCRF announces new research grant allocations The Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) recently announced over C$190k in funding of research projects. Established in 1976, the CCRF funds chiropractic research to discover evidence-based treatments for people living with pain and disability caused by spinal dysfunction and disease. The effect of cervical spinal manipulation on brain functional connectivity using magnetic resonance neuroimaging in patients with chronic neck pain. Lead r esear ch er : Dr Felipe Duarte. Aw ar d: C$63,000 Im pact : This is the first FMRI study of its kind on the cervical spine which will provide important data needed to fill gaps in current knowledge. It?s also the first study that will measure both short and long-term effects of SMT on brain function and how these neuroplastic effects might change over time.
Is there a correlation between NMSK disorders and breast pain in breast feeding mothers seeking chiropractic care: a case series Lead r esear ch er : Dr Chantal Doucet. Aw ar d: C$5000 Im pact : The biomechanics of breast feeding and post-partum body pain are areas in need of research. In addition to providing much needed data for chiropractors and the profession, this study addresses a broader issue beyond MSK and will lay critical groundwork for future trials.
Advancing the conceptualization and assessment of pain-related suffering Lead r esear ch er : Dr Peter Stillwell Aw ar d: C$10,000 Im pact :This study seeks to discover how patients feel their suffering is prioritized by practitioners. This will lead to a better understanding of people with painful MSK issues, address gaps related to the assessment of pain-related suffering and improve the patient experience during the initial assessment and treatment.
Tracking the impact of clinical care among patients with chronic lower back pain: the utility of performance-based measures of physical function and impairment Lead r esear ch er : Dr Sheila Hogg-Johnson Aw ar d: C$16,000 Im pact :The goal of this study is to determine whether patient assessments can be improved by adding function tests to questionnaires and to see if changes perceived by patients are supported by functional changes. This will help chiropractors assess patients more effectively and improve patient satisfaction. This team includes high level female investigators and is an international (Danish) collaboration.
The association of chiropractic integration with opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain in an Ontario health care centre: a mixed methods study Lead r esear ch er : Dr Peter Emary Aw ar d: C$44,000 Im pact : This is the first study of its kind to track whether the receipt of chiropractic services can reduce opioid use reduction among patients already using prescription opioids. It also seeks to identify improvements in quality of life and other qualitative areas that may prove unique to chiropractic intervention and help validate outcomes seen in practice
Is a funded, integrated pathway for low back pain a feasible way to shift health resource utilization from low value to high value care. Lead r esear ch er : Prof. Greg Kawchuk Aw ar d: C$52,000 Im pact : Governments and health insurance companies spend a significant money on treatment for patients with chronic lower back pain. This study seeks to discover whether providing evidence-based treatments resolves patient?s issues more effectively and reduces their cost of care.
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European investment in research is paying off Since the European Centre for Chiropractic Research Excellence (ECCRE) research grant was established in 2016, it has supported 13 research projects. One project has been completed, with 4 more expected to be completed in 2020 and the remaining 9 expected to be completed in the next 3 years. An dr eas Ek lu n d, one of the original applicants in 2016, has completed his research project ?Chiropractic Maintenance care ? cost-utility, psychological factors and pain trajectories?and has submitted the final report. Eklund and his co-investigators conclude that Chiropractic Maintenance Care (MC) reduces the number of days of pain within each LBP episode among patients classified as Dysfunctional The four ECCRE research projects, which are in line for completion in 2020: Fr an cesca
ECCRE Key Stakeholders:
Wu yt ak (Development of a core outcome set for Pelvic Girdle Pain; A systematic review, qualitative interviews and Delphi consensus study); Jan Har t vigsen (CARL, the Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership); Rich ar d Nicol (Development of an ICF-based assessment schedule for manual medicine) and Lise Vilst r u p Holm (The effect of chiropractic treatment on infantile colic: A randomized controlled single-blind study) are all busy completing their projects in 2020. Six research projects are scheduled to be completed in 2021: Cecilie Kr age Øver ås (Pain in the spine and elsewhere - patterns and consequences);Sidn ey Ru bin st ein (Spinal manipulative therapy for acute low-back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis); Pet r a Sch w ein h ar dt (Phenotyping low back pain - a prospective
observational pilot study); Dam ian Bailey (Relationship between physical activity, low back pain and cognitive impairment. A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data from the Danish Twins Registry) and An dr eas Ek lu n d (Development of a clinical stratification instrument to improve cost-effectiveness of Chiropractic Maintenance Care). M au r it z van Tu lder (Back Complaints in Elders (BACE): A prospective, longitudinal analysis of older people with low-back pain in chiropractic care) has been granted an extension due to COVID-19 and is now expected to complete his project in 2022. Sar ah Th u r øe (Growing pains in Danish children: A quantitative and qualitative description) and Jan Hartvigsen (CARL the second) are expected to be completed in 2023 as planned.
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39 RESEARCH NEWS
New Zealand CCR research team building and strengthening programs The team at the Centre for Chiropractic Research (CCR) at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic has adapted well to the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19 and has continued to build and strengthen its research program and team.
University of Technology and Brain Research New Zealand and resulted in a publication in the journal ?Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.?
CCR's capacity has been boosted by global researchers and boasts collaborations with over 20 research partners based in colleges and universities around the world.This is the product of a dedicated goal to focus on building collaborations with researchers from within and outside of the chiropractic profession who would complement the work and skill set at the CCR. The CCR attributes one of the keys to its success to Dr Imran Khan Niazi, Laboratory and Research Partnership Manager since 2013.With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and Sciences from Aalborg University in Denmark, Dr Niazi has been instrumental in building many of the research collaborations with researchers at universities around the world. One such project was carried out in conjunction with Auckland
Dr Imran Khan Niazi, CCR Laboratory and Research Partnership Manager
Besides helping to build our collaborations, Dr Niazi has brought a skill set to our team at the CCR that has allowed us to develop new approaches to investigate the neurophysiological effects of chiropractic care.
Dr Heidi Haavik (center) with colleagues in the human neurophysiology lab at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic
This includes developing novel semi-automated approaches to analyze somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), which are a way of gauging how chiropractic care impacts sensorimotor integration (the way the brain creates a motor response based on sensory information it receives). Dr Niazi is also skilled at using artificial intelligence (particularly neural networks) to
40 RESEARCH NEWS
New Zealand CCR research team building and strengthening programs (continued) investigate relationships and nuances in data that could help us better understand the effects of chiropractic care. One example of how neural networks can help us to better understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of chiropractic care came from a study recently completed at the CCR. This study is called ?Using arti?cial intelligence (AI) to investigate the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on resting state EEG in stroke patients?(2) and it aimed to investigate whether an AI approach can be used to assess potential neuroplastic changes in stroke patients following chiropractic care. In the study a pretrained convolutional neural network was used to investigate whether EEG changes could be detected in people with chronic stroke before and after a chiropractic adjustment session or a control session. The study found that using the gamma EEG frequency band, the neural network could classify whether the participant had been adjusted or not with 89% accuracy. The team plans to replicate this project in other patient populations with larger sample sizes. Further work is exploring how machine learning approaches can be used to monitor outcomes
of chiropractic care in practice-based research networks. It is believed that this technology and approach will lead to a better understanding of the clinical effects of chiropractic care on patient outcomes and ultimately help chiropractors to provide the most effective patient-centered care in their practices. The CCR recognizes ongoing support from a number of core funders; these include the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, the Hamblin Trust (which is primarily funded by the New Zealand Chiropractors?Association), the Scottish Chiropractic Association and The Kids Summit. Significant funding contributions have also been received from other organizations, including NCMIC , the United Chiropractic Association the UK, the College of Chiropractic Paediatrics, which is based in Australia, and Epic Practice from the USA. The projects described provide a small snapshot of some of the research being conducted at the CCR over recent years. In addition to these projects, 35 further projects are currently in progress. These include an exploration of chiropractic professional identity and how practice styles influence patient outcomes, work on neonates and children and studies exploring the relevance of specificity of spinal adjusting relative to outcomes.. Head of Research, Dr Heidi Haavik commented, "We are very proud of our growing team and the research program that we have been able to establish at the CCR. We have a strong publication record that has benefited from the integrative and collaborative approach that we have pursued. We?re excited about the work that we are doing and are confident that it will continue to make a positive contribution to the future of the chiropractic profession."
Dr Heidi Haavik (center) with the CCR team at New Zealand College of Chiropractic
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42 RESEARCH NEWS
Activator osteoarthritis study shows promising results A research team at the Royal University Center in Madrid has just published the results of its study in Scientific Report, a journal publication of the group Nature. The study was undertaken in collaboration with the National Center for Cancer Research in Spain (CNIO) and the Rheumatology Laboratory of the Jimenez Diaz Hospital Research Foundation (FIJD) as part of the PhD thesis of Dr Francisco Conesa. Osteoarthritis continues to be the leading cause of disability and health costs worldwide. The rheumatology laboratory of the FIJD has established an animal model to study options in pharmacological therapies in osteoarthritis and the researchers were very interested of the only non-pharmacological experiment using a chiropractic instrument. The study was performed using rabbits. The anterior cruciate ligament was severed and two weeks after the
Researchers, Dr Ricardo Fujikawa (left) and Francisco Miguel Conesa, preparing the intervention.
surgery the experimental group used the Activator V intervention 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The outcomes were measured by macroscopic tissue analysis, microcomputerised tomography, histological studies and protein analysis. The outcomes demonstrated that in the osteoarthritis samples, bone mineral density in the subchondral bone as well as the cartilage integrity were decreased when compared to the control group. However, the group receiving the Activator treatment showed partial recovery when compared to the sham group. ALso, the inflammatory protein expression was reduced in the treated sample. Macroscopic observations also demonstrated a degree of improvement for the treated group.
The Activator V instrument was used in the research.
The researchers are mindful of the issues related to the external validity of the study. However, preclinical research is still relevant for testing hypothesis at the organism level and for validation of human data. These results contrast with the lack of pharmacological options in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
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44 SPECIAL FEATURE
INTERVIEW: Meet Jordanne Buote, newly-appointed WCCS President Canadian Dr Jordanne Buote is the newly elected President of the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS). Dr Buote, a 2019 graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, took up her new office at the WCCS Annual General Meeting, originally planned to be held in Toronto but rearranged to a virtual event in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Buote heads up an all-female Board of Directors at WCCS for the 2020-2021 term of office, serving alongside Alison McLuckie (London South Bank University, UK), Sarah Hampton (Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Canada), Kelsie Albright (Parker University, USA), Keiron Boosi (Durban University of Technology, South Africa), Dr Kemmy Ritter (Logan University, USA) and Dr Naomi van Veen (Welsh Institute of Chiropractic, UK). Dr Buote is a native of the small Canadian maritime province of Prince Edward Island and has returned to its capital Charlottetown to practice in a multidisciplinary health facility offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage. She completed her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at Dalhousie University and originally had aspirations to follow her sister into physiotherapy until completing a placement with Halifax-based chiropractor Dr Katherine Macadam. She explains how this placement changed her career direction: ?Spending time on a placement with Dr Macadam inspired me to apply to chiropractic college. Through observing her in practice, I realized how chiropractic could make a tremendous difference to people?s lives. The challenge of solving the diagnostic puzzle and helping people achieve better health and
Dr Jordanne Buote, President of the World Congress of Chiropractic Students
well-being through chiropractic immediately appealed. CMCC?s reputation made it a natural choice for me for my chiropractic training.? WCCS is an international forum representing the global student population. With over 20 Chapters globally, its mission is to provide an apolitical platform on which chiropractic students and new graduates are able to develop the leadership skills and deeper understanding of the diversity within chiropractic, necessary to advance the
45 SPECIAL FEATURE
INTERVIEW: Meet Jordanne Buote, newly-appointed WCCS President (continued)
WCCS Vision Early-career chiropractors united to improve the health and well being of our global societies through safe and high-quality care, equipped with the skills to adopt leadership roles both within their communities and on a global scale.
chiropractic profession in the wider healthcare industry. WCCS supports intra-, and inter-professional as well as multisectoral collaborations with the goal of improving global health and well-being. It was while at CMCC that Dr Buote became interested in WCCS. Despite being introduced to the CMCC Chapter in her first year, it was not until Year 3 that she put herself forward to serve as an officer. ?I was too nervous to get involved with WCCS early on as a chiropractic student but after talking with my classmate Dr Shadi Fattahi I was motivated to volunteer. Shadi was WCCS Treasurer at the time and gave me a lot of information that convinced me that being an active part of the organization would be really rewarding.? It was only at the WCCS AGM in Johannesburg in 2018 that Dr Buote truly understood the scope and potential of WCCS. Despite having been involved in the CMCC Chapter, it was attending the conference in South Africa that broadened her perspective and ignited a spark. She became President of the CMCC chapter and at the 2019 AGM in Brisbane was elected WCCS Treasurer before running for the office of President in 2020. ?I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the
World Health Assembly in Geneva in 2019 and the WHO Executive Board meeting in 2020 as part of the WFC delegation and this gave me an understanding of the role that chiropractic can place on the wider health stage,? says Dr Buote. ?From planning to simply return to the East coast as a chiropractor and get my head down in practice, things kind of turned out a little differently!? Dr Buote sees a positive future for WCCS and is determined for it to continue to realize its potential as an influential global voice for chiropractic students. ?Getting a seat at the table is one thing,? she explains, ?but making demands is not enough. We have to bring knowledge, and research and data to back up our calls for youth engagement both inside and outside the chiropractic profession. Being clear about what we stand for and our aspirations is critical if we want to be heard and achieve our goals. ?We need to build skills in a range of areas, but in leadership in particular. One of the challenges that we face due to the very transitional nature of who we are is sustainable leadership. I?m a big fan of developing sound procedures. We need to ensure as an
WCCS Mission To provide an apolitical platform on which chiropractic students and new graduates are able to develop the leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the diversity within chiropractic, necessary to advance the chiropractic profession in the wider healthcare industry. The WCCS supports intra and inter-professional as well as multi-sectoral collaborations with the goal of improving global health and well-being.
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INTERVIEW: Meet Jordanne Buote, newly-appointed WCCS President (continued) organization that we are consistent from year to year so that we are able to work towards our short and long term goals without losing momentum. Leadership training and effective board governance will help us to become more effective, develop our brand and be clear in pursuing our mission.? Dr Buote is also very clear on how she would like to see the direction of WCCS in the coming years, particularly as it relates to advocacy. ?We are a student-led, student-focused global chiropractic organization. It therefore makes no sense to focus efforts on matters that have no relevance to the constituency we represent. The WCCS identity must be around standing up for chiropractic students, being a strong voice for student rights, and advocating for better conditions for students and early-career chiropractors. ?This year ?s COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape in all chiropractic educational institutions and has inevitably impacted on chiropractic students. By providing a voice at chapter level we have been able to represent the interests of students while working with institutional leaders. The pandemic has created anxiety
and uncertainty and WCCS has been there to support students around the world.? On the subject of diversity, Dr Buote recognizes the importance of respecting different approaches to chiropractic education and practice around the world. She comments, ?As WCCS President, it is important that I represent chiropractic students of all institutions. Of course there are different approaches to chiropractic, and different philosophies that drive them, but for me it is very straightforward. As long as practice is legal, ethical and professional and puts patients and the public first, the WCCS is a fierce advocate of unity with respect to diversity. ?We also recognize that by open communication and by educating each other with respect to similarities and differences that WCCS can move forward with purpose and create opportunities for chiropractic students.? Personally,Dr Buote sees a strong future for chiropractors within health systems if current opportunities are grasped. As a CMCC graduate and now working within a multidisciplinary clinical setting, she is supportive of evidence-based,
people-centered, interprofessional and collaborative care ? the EPIC principles championed by the WFC. She also envisions a positive trajectory for WCCS and was part of a working group that resulted in new vision and mission statements being ratified at the 2020 AGM. ?We wanted a clearer direction articulated for WCCS,? she explains. ?Our new vision encapsulates unity for the purpose of improving global health and wellbeing, but also speaks to promoting safe and high-quality care and community and global leadership. ?WCCS recognizes the need to ensure students are well-prepared to seize opportunities that allow them to be valued members of health systems globally." Presidential terms typically last one year. Entering the WCCS presidency at such a critical time for global health is a challenge but one that Dr Buote clearly relishes. Having hit the ground running, this leader is destined to make a difference and leave a legacy. The WFC wishes her every success in her year in office.
Jordanne Buote was speaking to Richard Brown
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48 WORLD NEWS
Australian Chiropractors Association launch 'Consider A Chiro' campaign WFC member, the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), has launched a new campaign aimed at targeting Australians and educating them about the benefits of positive neuromusculoskeletal health. Consider a Chiro is the ACA's flagship public engagement campaign and is designed to achieve two key objectives: -
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achieve a greater understanding of the chiropractic profession across key stakeholders including the media and the Australian public inform the decisions of new patients to consider the care offered by ACA members
The campaign was launched during the ACA's Spinal Health Week with the slogan "Consider a Chiro - My Chiro, My Action Plan on Pain. "Research has shown that chiropractic care can be very helpful for people with back
pain, neck pain and headaches. While this is not the full picture of what chiropractic care offer, it's where our strengths are in terms of evidence," explains ACA President Dr Anthony Coxon. The campaign focused on back pain neck pain and headaches, encouraging the public to consider a chiropractor for these commonly experienced ailments The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that 70-90% of Australians will suffer from a form of low back pain at some point in their lives. A public relations agency commissioned by the ACA to under take a nationally representative survey explored existing perceptions, levels of awareness and experience with pain, pain management and considerations for visiting a chiropractor. Their findings showed: 1) Of 8.7 million Australians working from home, approximately a third report suffering from back pain
(40.9%), neck pain (39.8%) and tension headaches (30.9%). 2) For one in four Australians, this is a pain never before experienced. 3) A quarter of those experiencing pain admit it impacts their performance at work (25%) and a third reveal they find it more difficult undertaking household chores (33.5%). 4) Almost one in ten wait more than six months to seek help and 20% do not seek professional help at all. The new research findings also reveal that 13% of people would not consider seeing a chiropractor at all if they had back pain - prompting the ACA's new campaign. The Consider a Chiro campaign attracted significant national publicity with interest shown by the highest rated news channels in Australia.In total the media impressions for Spinal Health Week 2020
49 WORLD NEWS
Australian Chiropractors Association launch 'Consider A Chiro' campaign (continued)
reached an astounding 18 million. This far exceeds the media campaign that the ACA has run previously. The social media reach during Spinal Health Week was approximately 1.5 million. Dr Matthew Fisher, ACA CEO said, "Changing the public's perception doesn't happen overnight but this is certainly a great step forward. For the millions of Australians who have engaged with the campaign so far, the seed has been sown. The benefit of a long term campaign is the ability to keep reinforcing campaign messaging." "The success of Spinal Health Week is a testament to the collective efforts put in by so many members across Australia. We enjoyed seeing members engaging with the campaign by putting up posters, wearing t-shirts or polo shirts and posting thought-provoking content on social media. In the longer-term Consider a Chiro campaign continues. For the next three to five years, Consider a Chiro will be both an overarching campaign of all the ACA's public engagement campaigns like Spinal Health Week, World Spine Day and Back to School, and the call to action that will be used across these campaigns.
Dr Anthony Coxon is the President of the Australian Chiropractors Association.
The next phase of Consider a Chiro will be World Spine Day 2020 with the theme ?Back on Track?. The Australian Chiropractors Association is the fourth largest national chiropractic association in the world, with approximately 2600 members Information in this article is reproduced with thanks from the ACA's newsletter The Australian Chiropractor.
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Helping Hands for World Spine Care According to The Lancet,540 million people suffer from low back pain globally. World Spine Care is a multi-national non-profit whose mission is to provide evidence-based spinal care to under-served communities around the world. To date, our clinics have provided over 50,000 patient encounters in communities where access to spinal care is often limited. We n eed you r h elp ? n ow , m or e t h an ever bef or e. Support from the chiropractic community will allow World Spine Care to continue providing care in our global clinics, including the ongoing efforts to
support programs running in Botswana, Dominican Republic, and India. With your help, we aim to raise $10,000 to provide care to those who need it most. Your donation will help to purchase equipment, supplies, and educational materials to support World Spine Care volunteers, and to help maintain the operational costs of the program. St ar t you r ow n f u n dr aiser on behalf of your clinic and encourage your colleagues and patients to reach out their helping hands to a cause they believe in. Or , don at e a dollar a day f or 54 days ? representing the 540 million people who are suffering from low back pain.Your donation will have a direct impact in helping patients that are suffering from spinal pain. In exchange for your generous support, World Spine Care will provide regular emails over the next 54 days that will provide educational information about the work you?re helping to support, along with tips and tools that you can share with your networks, including: -
Highlights from our clinical programs and conferences in Botswana; A media package to promote community awareness of your support; A webinar with leading spine care researchers; A WSC donation certificate to showcase in your clinic; A virtual certificate for use on LinkedIn; And more!
The World Spine Care Helping Hands campaign allows you to fuel your passion for spine care by keeping your fundraising dollars within your field.
Dr. Evelina Elmgren worked as an Associate Volunteer in Moca, Dominican Republic, one of the clinics that will be supported by the Helping Hands Campaign in 2020
Visit our website atwww.worldspinecare.org/helping-handsto set up your clinic page and be a leader in the Helping Hands Campaign today.
52 WORLD NEWS
Chiropractor earns right to operate private X-ray unit in the Netherlands. Despite rules in the Netherlands prohibiting chiropractors from taking x-rays in their practices, one leading Dutch chiropractor has been granted a license to take x-rays at his private clinic. Dr Gertjan van Koert, a past president of the Netherlands Chiropractic Association (NCA), is now able to perform x-rays in his hospital-grade radiography facility at his practice in Zoetermeer. Until regulations stopped chiropractors being able to take x-rays in the Netherlands, many operated their own x-ray units. After regulations were implemented, those chiropractors wishing to continue to use x-rays as part of their clinical practice were subject to a strict protocol requiring In order to obtain his license, Dr van Koert was required to demonstrate to the authorities competence in and compliance with all regulations. Speaking after being granted licensure, Dr van Koert said:?I hope and believe that this will serve as a template for other NCA chiropractors who wish to pursue this path, and down the road, it can only help us getting recognized as a health care profession?.
Dr Gertjan van Koert
close supervision, developed in 2007 by NCA member Dr Evert Vermeer, a medical radiologist and a general medical practitioner. Implementation of more rigid European ionizing radiation regulations in February 2018 required close monitoring of all x-ray facilities by licensed radiation experts and clinical physicists, including the measuring of exposure to ionizing radiation and adherence to strict protocols.
Chiropractors operating X-ray facilities in Europe, including the United Kingdom, must comply with the Ionizing Radiation Regulations 2017 and the Ionizing Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018, which have arisen directly from the European Standards Basic Safety Standards Directive 2013/59/Euratom (BSSD). There are over 300 chiropractors in the Netherlands. The NCA is the largest national association and is the WFC constituent member national association. It also has a seat on the General Council of the European Chiropractors? Union, where it is represented by NCA President Dr Gitte Tønner.
53 WORLD NEWS
ACA encourages all to get Active and Adaptive during NCHM 2020
Oregon Medical School to offer online concussion return to play program
Lifestyles have been evolving as people try to reduce their potential exposure to COVID-19, including avoiding crowded public spaces, working from home, forgoing air travel for car trips, and avoiding gyms and exercise classes. As a result of these changes, people are moving less, feeling less fit and, in some cases, experiencing pain. This October during National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) 2020, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and chiropractors will focus on helping people become more ?Active and Adaptive? by highlighting the importance of movement and posture and providing tips and strategies to help the them adapt to the new normal in healthy ways. NCHM is a nationwide observance held each October in the United States, helping to raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered and drug-free approach to health and wellness. NCHM strives to educate consumers about the benefits of chiropractic services and to help them reach optimal levels of health and wellness. The NCHM 2020 toolkit, which includes patient handouts, sample social media posts and graphics, and much more is available at acatoday.org/NCHM. The home of NCHM for patients and the public is ACA?s consumer site, HandsDownBetter.org.
American Football is one of the commonest sports associated with concussion.
The Oregon Chiropractic Association (OCA) has been successful in passing legislation that will allow a doctor of chiropractic to become certified in concussion and return to play protocols. This historic achievement follows sustained efforts by the OCA, involving sustained political effort and three legislative sessions, which finally saw Senate Bill 1547 passed in 2018. Designed for health care professionals who treat concussion patients, the online course fulfills the education requirement under Oregon law to be designated as a Qualified Health Professional to provide medical clearance for concussed youth to return to play. Any chiropractor licensed in the United States is eligible to take this course. The course is administered by Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. For more information, contact Dr Vern Saboe DC, FACO (vern@drvernsaboe.com). Course details can be found at the OHSU website and by clicking here.
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JAC publishes official COVID-19 guidelines On August 24, the Japanese Association of Chiropractors (JAC) published its "COVID-19 Prevention and Control Guidelines for Chiropractic Offices" under the supervision of Professor Intetsu Kobayashi, an infectious diseases research from Toho University. The evidence-based guidelines were formed on the basis of reports of the government's COVID-19 expert meeting and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The guidelines contain the following: 1) An overview of COVID-19. 2) Understanding the risks of COVID-19 in chiropractic offices. 3) Preventing and minimizing the spread of infection. 4) Checklists for preventing and minimizing the spread of infection.
CASA keeps members motivated during COVID-19 lockdown The Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA) has been working to support its members during this period of fear and uncertainty. In the midst of Level 5 lockdown, with minimal human contact permitted during the 5 week period, CASA utilized its Facebook and Instagram digital platforms to provide information to both its members and the general public. With financial constraints weighing on members, CASA also gave full members the opportunity to upskill and collect valuable CPD points with free online Zoom and Facebook events. Coordinated by CASA Secretary-General Dr Bridget Bromfield, a line-up of CPD-accredited lockdown webinars was quickly put in place and record attendances, approaching 370 CASA members, were in attendance.
A spokesperson for the JAC commented, "The purpose of publishing guidelines is not only about providing evidence-based knowledge about COVID-19 but preventing all chiropractors and manual therapists from promoting extravagant claims in relation to COVID-19." In March 2020, the WFC Research Committee published the results of a rapid review, which concluded that there was no credible scientific evidence to support claims of effectiveness for the treatment of COVID-19 with spinal adjustment / spinal manipulation. The WFC continues to reinforce the advice of the World Health Organization, to ensure regular hand washing, use face coverings and maintain physical distancing wherever possible.
As well as academic pursuits, CASA kept its members' physical and mental morale intact with a range of challenges, including a competition for the longest plank hold and invitations to share CASA members' moments of relaxation with their favorite book. As well as keeping members connected nationally, the CASA events also maintains international communication
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ICA announces new Board during 94th annual meeting The International Chiropractors Association held its 94th annual meeting in September in conjunction with its celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the first chiropractic adjustment. The meeting, held virtually, convened the ICA Board and Assembly Representatives and highlighted an international diversity panel chaired by Vice-President Selina Sigafoose-Jackson and featuring recently appointed chair of the
American Black Chiropractors Association, Dr Micheala Edwards. Following a year-long review of its governance the ICA announced a new Board at the meeting, which as well as re-appointing two existing directors, Dr Joseph Betz and Dr Thomas Taylor, appointed three new directors: Dr Eddie Martinez, Dr Brian Moriarty and Dr Bob Mulcahy
ICA President Dr Stephen Welsh commented, "This historic election, held during our Founder 's Day celebration, under the new ICA governance model, is the first step in building a stronger and more diverse ICA Board. The ICA is a truly international organization committed to meeting today's challenges while serving our members and fulfilling our mission to bring chiropractic worldwide."
57 WORLD NEWS
FICS urges sports chiropractors to gear up for surge in global events. With many sports events around the world having been curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS) is looking towards the future. Assured by the fact that national and international sporting events will return, FICS is preparing to receive many requests for sports chiropractors to be present when sporting activity
sports chiropractors to help care for athletic injuries and bolster performance. At FICS, we too are looking towards the future and continually encourage students to seriously consider sports chiropractic." Recently, FICS has been spending time on the development of new programs to benefit its members. One of these, the FICS Road Show, aims to introduce students of member schools and sports councils to the global world of sports chiropractic. Opportunities will also be made available to begin a local mentor program with a FICS sports chiropractor. For chiropractors, becoming a member of FICS provides access to a wider community of like-minded professionals. Whether on the field at an international competition or in a classroom (either virtual or hands-on), there is the chance to learn from the brightest minds in sports chiropractic. Few experiences in the profession rival being a sports chiropractor at an international competition. Membership of FICS ensures regular updates on all that's going on in the sports world. FICS is also present on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Dr Keith Overland, Secretary-General, FICS
resumes. Dr Keith Overland, Secretary-General of FICS is optimistic. He commented, "The competitive spirit in athletes and fans will light the fire and we will soon hear the refrain 'Let the games begin!' We expect a slow increase in competitions over the course of 2021 but as they come on line, many organizers have requested
By getting involved with FICS, through educational institutions, National Chiropractic Sports Councils, national chiropractic associations or as individuals, chiropractors and chiropractic students can take that first step towards being a critical part of sports events held around the world. To find out more about how you can develop your career as a sports chiropractor contact FICS at admin@ficsport.org.
58 WORLD NEWS
New Philippines ruling outlaws use of Doctor title and use of medical terminology by chiropractors. A recent determination by authorities in the Philippines has ruled that chiropractors should no longer use the title Doctor in their practice and publicity materials. The decision follows a complaint submitted to the Department of Health (DoH) by the Philippines Professional Medical Society. In a complaint letter dated September 11, 2019, addressed to Health Minister Dr Francisco Duque III, the society cited five areas of concern: 1) The practice of chiropractic is not registered in the Philippines. 2) They should not claim to be spine specialists. 3) They use the title doctor and by so doing are misleading the public into thinking they are medically qualified. 4) They use the term patient. 5) They use the term clinic. The DoH referred the matter to the Philippines Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), whose authority the practice of chiropractic in the Philippines is administered. WFC member for the nation, the Association of Professional Chiropractors of the Philippines
(APCP) , called an urgent meeting with the Director General of PITAHC, Dr Annabelle De Guzman. It was noted that the President of the APCP, Martin Camara, had good relations with the DoH as a member of its Healthcare Technology Assessment Council and as a member of the Board of Trustees of PITAHC. This led to open communication and the ability to discuss matters in a constructive manner.
of the neuromusculoskeletal system. The meeting also considered recent high-profile criticism of a chiropractor online in the light of
A formal meeting with PITAHC involved a range of stakeholders and was chaired by the Director General. After consideration of the relevant legislation, the following determinations were made: 1) That chiropractic falls under the jurisdiction of PITAHC and not the Professional Regulatory Commission, 2) The term 'Doctor ' and 'Dr.' are reserved for the medical profession only. 3) The use of the terms 'patients' and 'clinics' is reserved for the medical profession only. 4) The definition of the scope of practice of chiropractic as defined by WHO and PITAHC includes chiropractors as experts in functional disorders
Martin Camara, President, Association of Professional Chiropractors of the Philippines.
the Philippines strict cyber-libel laws. APCP has given undertakings to remind its members of the legislation regarding the use of terms reserved for the medical profession and to issue guidelines around publicity and marketing claims. PITAHC also recommended that all chiropractors practicing in the Philippines should become members of the APCP.
59 WORLD NEWS
WCCS focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goals as part of new global campaign The World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS) has been working on a campaign to raise awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using the hashtag #act4sdgs, WCCS is challenging a number of chiropractic associations, as well as other student health organizations to come on board. While the emphasis of WCCS will be to highlight the third of the 20 SDGs, "To Ensure Healthy Lives And Ensure Well-being For All At All Ages", WCCS will also be highlighting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education)and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
said, "We're encouraging our partners to take on the goals we have chosen for the Act4SDGs campaign and to add more if possible. We look forward to the collaboration and hope it will inspire many more to take action and #act4sdgs."
WCCS Director of External Affairs, Keiron Boussi,
Chiropractic in Turkey suffers bitter blow in court ruling Turkish chiropractors have reacted angrily to the news that the profession has been denied statutory recognition. In a recent ruling by the administrative court in Turkey, the Turkish Chiropractic Association, Kayropraktik Omurga Sa?l???Derne?i, was told the profession of chiropractic would not be recognized as a distinct profession The Turkish Chiropractic Association is a full member of both the WFC (Eastern Mediterranean region) and the
European Chiropractors' Union. The current president of the TCA is Dr Ali Donat. Chiropractic education is provided in Turkey at Istanbul's Bahรงe?ehir University, which played host to the WFC's 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Regional Seminar. hosted in association with the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Chiropractic Federation (EMMECF). The program is currently seeking accredited status with the European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE).
Past president of the Turkish Chiropractic Association, Dr Mustafa A?ao?lu, commented after the ruling, "Our fight for recognition will go on in the higher courts. Having initiated this quest back in 2015, this is bitter news on the 125th anniversary of chiropractic. "Chiropractic is a distinct health care profession recognized by the World Health Organization. I will not stand by and have our rightful position as a distinct health profession denied to us."
60 WORLD NEWS
Regulators flexible and innovative, says ICRS Chair The COVID-19 virus has transformed the entire world, including the work done by chiropractic regulators. ?Regulators have had to be flexible and innovative,? notes Dr Lisa Richard, chair of the International Chiropractic Regulatory Society (ICRS). ?However, the core concept is the same. Protection of the public guides every decision, as it should for individual chiropractors as well.?
ACA Engage 2021 to go virtual The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has announced plans to hold its first virtual annual meeting in February 2021. The online format enables ACA to bring members of the chiropractic profession together to learn, advocate, and network while ensuring the highest level of safety for all participants amid continuing COVID-19 concerns.
Regulatory agencies and boards have tapped into electronic tools to a greater degree than ever before. Information can be accessed and shared via secure internet connections, allowing regulatory board members and staff to work from home. Even meetings and hearings can be conducted electronically. ?Technology is increasingly important. It also allows participation by more people. For example, board meetings are electronically accessible to many chiropractors, who can observe the detailed process the laws require to protect all the parties involved in a complaint,? Richard observed. ?Some of the challenges we have faced will have a permanent and positive effect on chiropractic regulation long after the difficulties created by the virus have subsided.?
To read some of the news stories about how the virus has affected regulation worldwide or to learn more about the way chiropractic is regulated, please visit the ICRS website www.chiroregulation.org
ACA?s annual meeting, ACA Engage, normally takes place every winter in Washington, D.C. It is the chiropractic profession?s premier national conference, attended by doctors of chiropractic, chiropractic assistants (CAs) and students, as well as vendors who serve the industry. The ACA House of Delegates also convenes during the meeting to chart the future direction of the association. ?In addition to providing dynamic content and opportunities to learn, advocate and grow as leaders, the health and safety of our members and colleagues is a top priority of ACA Engage this year,? said ACA President Robert C. Jones, DC. ?Using new tools as well as best practices gleaned from other organizations who have faced similar challenges, we are excited to move forward with Engage 2021 as a fully virtual experience.? Visit www.acatoday.org/Engagefor more information about the annual meeting as it becomes available.
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THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS
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THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS
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