Effective, well-documented care exists for the most common spinal disorders, yet nearly 87% of all Americans who have subluxations fail to seek chiropractic care, according to the first ever Surgeon General’s Report on Chiropractic. The report, commissioned by the Health and Human Services Secretary, focuses on the connection between spinal health and overall health, barriers to receiving chiropractic, and the specific issues of children, adults, and the elderly.

Is it time for chiropractors to begin marketing themselves as manual therapists in order to fit in to some medical model? Is the profession predominantly in favor of peddling muscle relaxers and other pharmaceuticals while performing colonics and doing foot baths? Have the colleges gotten so far out of touch with the rest of the industry that churning out student failures has become the primary business model? The doom and gloom train has left the station but someone forgot to send me a ticket.

It is a simple physics equation in golf: the higher the swing speed, the farther the golf ball travels. The average PGA Tour player generates a swing speed in the neighborhood of 110 MPH. Maurice Allen, a first year chiropractic student at Life University, recorded the highest ever swing of 161 MPH as recorded on the Momentus® Speed Whoosh, a golf training aid.

December holidays can be a stressful time. Drivers are distracted, people are running all about town buying gifts, workers are handling longer hours than usual, and folks are generally stressed. As a Los Angeles doctor of chiropractic, I think we see that stress on the streets (and on the adjusting table) as much as any metro area chiropractor does. We do our best to make the holiday season bright and stress-free as possible. Having awesome weather in Los Angeles helps (no snow, ice and road salt on the ground) but it feels at times everyone’s rushing to LAX International Airport, on their way to see family, and perhaps getting their last chiropractic adjustment of the year.

Parker leaders, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker College of Chiropractic, and Dr. Gilles Lamarche, vice president of Parker Seminars traveled to Haiti where they served the people in the earthquake devastated country. Demonstrating Parker’s dedication in spreading chiropractic worldwide, the two provided much needed care for the people in the destitute country.