On September 2, Life University (Life U) held a graduation ceremony for 72 health practitioners in China who completed a 100-hour Applied Chiropractic Neuroscience course.
On September 2, Life University (Life U) held a graduation ceremony for 72 health practitioners in China who completed a 100-hour Applied Chiropractic Neuroscience course.The chiropractic neuroscience course was developed by Life U and taught in six modules over 12 weekends, beginning in March of this year, a university press release noted. Five DCs participated: Michael Longyear, DC, Meaghan Longyear, DC, Dominic Fetterly, DC, Michael Hall, DC, and Jonathan Vestal, DC.
Much of the coursework was held at a conference center in Shanghai, as well as for select classes at West China Hospital. Participating DCs rotated teaching duties in order to cover the entire course load, primarily providing education based on particular career focuses they could share with students.
The chiropractic neuroscience course consisted of a wide range of healthcare professionals eager to expand their skillsets and embrace chiropractic insights, such as practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, physical therapy and occupational therapy. This initiative serves to educate and build bridges between practitioners in the US and China. Life U has made a commitment to advancing chiropractic education locally and globally.
“Dr. John Downes of Life U, along with Life U graduates Dr. Peng LI and Dr. Hou Yue, have really done a great job laying the groundwork in China and educating doctors and some of the public about the science of chiropractic,” Longyear said.
“With their initial efforts and the partnership with JinJi Jian and Drs. Stephen and Claire Welsh of the International Chiropractors Association, the structure and support were in place to really take it to the next level with organized, structured education.”
Chiropractic neuroscience course content
The six modules covered many aspects that make up applied chiropractic neuroscience, such as the brain stem, vestibular system, cerebellum, anatomy and physiology, the limbic cortex and the brain’s stress responses. The focus honed in on nervous system health and education about the principles of chiropractic as it relates to removing interferences in the system and allowing the body to self-regulate and self-maintain. After that, the class was broken down into sections describing the various levels of the nervous system. Students began to learn how to evaluate and affect neuroplastic change with chiropractic care and therapies rooted in chiropractic philosophy.
“It seemed as though the population we were speaking to is very open-minded to vitalism, considering a lot of their existing measures are fairly open to holistic care,” Fetterly said.
“When we started to tie in some of these concepts about the brain and the nervous system and some things that are not so widely practiced in the US, let alone in China, I think most people were actually pretty excited.
In wrapping up the course in early September, Hall and Longyear returned to administer final testing with all students. They also attended and spoke that week at the 3rd Annual China International Summit on Chiropractic and Spinal Health. During student testing, there was a written portion to be completed as well as a physical portion, to mimic National Board testing on a smaller scale.
“It was great seeing everyone start to get it. But 100 hours just scratched the surface, and there is more work to be done,” Longyear said.
The University is working on an education schedule for next year. The remainder of this year will see Life U representatives teaching in Beijing, strengthening current relationships in the region. There are longer hopes and planning for a working clinic to bring Applied Chiropractic Neuroscience to China’s general population, as well as, one day, a chiropractic school. Providing gap education such as this for healthcare practitioners to consider a path toward a chiropractic career serves the ultimate goal of greater acceptance of chiropractic in China.
