The Voice of Colorado Chiropractic Since 1917
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENVER, COLORADO June 12, 2020 – The Board of Directors of the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA), on behalf of its membership, have been made aware of recent statements of several organizations including the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) denying connection between chiropractic and the immune system. The World Federation of Chiropractic on March 19, 2020 stated:
“One of the key messages contained in the WFC advice note highlighted the lack of credible, scientific evidence supporting claims of effectiveness of spinal adjustment/manipulation in boosting immunity and strengthening the immune system.”2
The statement on the ACA’s website has since been removed, but in an interview on Monday March 30 with a local television station1, Dr. Keith Overland, past president of the ACA, said “[t]here is no quality research, data or evidence that suggests that a spinal manipulation to itself will support the immune system.”
In contrast, the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) issued a report3 in March of this year which stated the current global health crisis surrounding COVID-19 has forced varying degrees of change in our everyday lives, which, for many, has triggered increased levels of stress, anxiety, and fear. Scientific evidence has validated the negative implications that long-term stress has on the immune system, and we affirm the vital importance of the chiropractor in serving our patients through this time.
The ICA continues, while there are no clinical trials to substantiate a direct causal relationship between the chiropractic adjustment and increased protection from the COVID-19 virus, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the role of the nervous system in immune system function. Furthermore, basic science, clinical reports and scientific educational literature/texts provide evidence of the potential, beneficial effects of chiropractic care in improving function, including immune system function, and quality of life.
The CCA supports chiropractic practice in an evidence-informed, patient centered model. Evidence-informed practice involves the integration of the knowledge and experience of the chiropractor, the best available research evidence, and the needs and preferences of individual patients.
The Board of Directors of the Colorado Chiropractic Association seeks to support our membership in caring for and promoting the vitality and wellness of their patients to the fullest extent, without restraint, in accordance with our state practice act. The Colorado Chiropractic Practice Act states the following:
“(4) “Chiropractic” means that branch of the healing arts that is based on the premise that disease is attributable to the abnormal functioning of the human nervous system. It includes the diagnosing and analyzing of human ailments and seeks the elimination of the abnormal functioning of the human nervous system by the adjustment or manipulation, by hand or instrument, of the articulations and adjacent tissue of the human body, particularly the spinal column, and the use as indicated of procedures that facilitate the adjustment or manipulation and make it more effective and the use of sanitary, hygienic, nutritional, and physical remedial measures for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health, the prevention of disease, and the treatment of human ailments.”4
The role of the chiropractor to optimize health, improve adaptation, and improve the function and quality of lives of the Colorado public has never been more important than at a time of worldwide pandemic. As portal-of-entry healthcare providers, doctors of chiropractic are uniquely positioned, educated and licensed to triage and take appropriate care to provide such services. Chiropractors may work in private practices, multi-disciplinary clinics and hospitals serving the optimal health and wellness needs of the Colorado public.
The Board of Directors of the Colorado Chiropractic Association, on behalf of its membership, is positioned to show full support, provide ample resource to, and advocate for their members. Now, more than ever in recent history, chiropractors are called upon to uphold, serve and protect our oath, and provide clinical benefit to the healthy lives of those entrusted to our care.
Doug Jones, DC
CCA President
Resources:
1. Can a spinal adjustment protect your from COVID-19? Fox6 News Updated April 3, 2020. https://fox6now.com/2020/04/02/can-a-spinal-adjustment-protect-you-from-covid-19-associations-call-mequon-doctors-claim-misleading/?fbclid=IwAR2ZPPhTnR6z7SI2Nz-coshftev2Kg5wOaoMDkzk70fgvTgSJFTmBWQldmA
2. World Federation of Chiropractic. The Effects of Spinal Adjustment/Manipulation on Immunity and the Immune System: A Rapid Review of Relevant Literature. March 19, 2020. https://www.wfc.org/website/images/wfc/Latest_News_and_Features/Spinal_Manipulation_Immunity_Review_2020_03_19.pdf
3. International Chiropractic Association. Immune Function and Chiropractic. What does the Evidence Provide? March 28, 2020. http://www.chiropractic.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Updated-Report-of-3-28-wtih-fixed-biblio.pdf
4. Colorado Revised Statute 2019 Title 12 Professions and Occupations Article 215 Chiropractors. 12-215-103.4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzKoVwvexVATSVBLSjl4dG8xX00/view