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Reviews
Title: The Chiropractic Report
Category: Doctor Education/Research
Review
Editor: David Chapman-Smith, LLB(Hons)
Publication: Bi-Monthly Newsletter
Please see pages 36-37 Part #J-300-C for information on how to
order.
ARNETTA: SCAN IN THE CHIROPRACTIC REPORT
Isn't it sometimes a little tedious to read the research studies?
Most of the time you don't care about the paradigm -- just the
results, right? The Chiropractic Report is the publication you
want. This is a bi-monthly review of worldwide literature and
research that cuts to the heart of the matter and allows you to
understand quickly what the research is proving about the efficacy
of chiropractic.
Edited in Canada and calling upon chiropractic leaders worldwide,
the most refreshing aspect of The Chiropractic Report is the lack
of scope of practice controversy that seems to consume American
chiropractors. As you read it, you feel as though you have been
lifted above the petty rivalries and rhetoric that are holding U.S.
chiropractors back from completely taking control of
musculoskeletal care in the health care system.
You read reports from chiropractic associations in Japan, Hong Kong,
Trinidad, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Mexico, and the U.K. They
report on the research in all those countries that model and
support things like the RAND study. The preponderance of evidence
supports chiropractic and at the same time proves that medical
care is not only ineffective but often harmful as well.
The newsletter is truly valuable to the practicing doctor, staff,
and students too. It will keep doctors and staff abreast of the
most current research so you can mention it to patients during the
normal course of treatments. "Oh, by the way, Mrs. Jones, did
you know that a recent study in Saskatoon, Canada found that 20
percent of all chiropractic patients went to the chiropractor
because they were referred there by their medical doctors?" This
information is also extremely valuable when you are presenting
lectures, spine care classes, or health screenings. In addition,
this is an excellent publication to put in your reception room for
patients to read. There are no offensive ads or articles on
intraprofessional squabbles that are embarrassing for our patients
to see.
I have already ordered my first year's subscription. At $70 for
only six issues, I did think twice about it, but that was before I
actually read the two sample issues they sent me. When I was done
(and believe me, I read them cover to cover and couldn't put them
down), I ordered immediately.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for this publication. I'm so
motivated that, as soon as I'm done writing this review, I'm
going to set up some public appearances so I can tell everyone
about how great chiropractic is. This makes me very proud of my
profession. I am looking forward to this kind of mental boost
every other month from now on.
Eggleston Rating: 10
Title: You Can Be Fit
Author: Steven M. Horwitz, DC
Publisher: FCER
66 Washington Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50314
Publication: Soft cover, 75 pages
You Can Be Fit is a short (75-page), easy to read book for a
patient or lay person interested in beginning a basic fitness
program. The book covers such topics as how to pick a gym, an
introduction to aerobic and anaerobic exercise, stretching, simple
injury management, a home program, and nutrition. I would overall
rate this as a good book for a patient interested in beginning a
fitness program.
There were probably three or four areas where individual physicians
may disagree slightly with explanations or advice given. There
were also some areas that could be confusing or were just plain
incorrect. For example, the author had an artist draw silhouettes
of men and women to demonstrate exercise and stretching positions.
This worked well, however, those same silhouettes were used for
instructing patients on muscular anatomy. For a lay person, this
could be confusing and I feel that a little more detail would have
helped a lot.
In the nutrition chapter the author states, and I quote, "A
multivitamin/mineral supplement with about 100 percent of the RDA
for each vitamin and mineral may be a good idea. However, if one
tablet is good, two are not necessarily better." The problem with
this statement is that there is no way to put 100 percent of the
RDA of all vitamins and minerals in one pill. One pill per day
(multivitamins) commonly contain only a fraction of the RDA of
calcium and magnesium. A patient could definitely be confused
between taking one pill or taking the handful necessary to obtain
100 percent of the RDA for each vitamin and mineral. Although
someone who is educated in nutrition could infer what the author
means, one cannot assume this will be the case when your target
audience is the man or woman on the street.
There was what I considered a great call in the running section
when the author advised the patient to buy two pairs of running
shoes instead of one. However, without an explanation as to why to
do this (rotating with two pairs of shoes lets shoes "recover"
between runs and will last as long as three pairs worn
consecutively), it is very unlikely a patient would follow this
advice.
Overall I will rate this book as good for patient education. With
a few changes I feel a second addition could have the potential to
be excellent.
Andersen Rating: 6.5 out of 10 
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