Top 5 2021 Chiropractic Industry New Articles: preventing hip surgery and more

The most popular industry news articles featured a predicted doctor of chiropractic shortage, chiropractic awards in 2021, the popularity of functional medicine, preventing hip surgery …

The Chiropractic Economics 2021 Salary & Expense Survey suggested COVID economy dips (such as massage which took a large pandemic hit) were temporary, most likely an inevitable impact from the coronavirus pandemic that will fade as people resume their health care habits in the “new normal.” Industry news-wise in 2021, the most popular industry news articles on Chiropractic Economics featured a predicted doctor of chiropractic shortage, chiropractic awards in 2021, the popularity of functional medicine, preventing hip surgery, and a motion EMG technology with breakthrough results with injury court cases.

“I was getting calls from chiropractors with worker’s comp and personal injury (PI) practices that started the same way every time,” said designer David Marcarian, who developed his expertise in electrophysiology at NASA’s Ames Research Center. “It was like, ‘The attorney said they won’t work with me unless I get a DynaROM, period.’”

With more Baby boomers reaching retirement age and they are redefining the demographics of the country, a larger part of the U.S. population will be considered “seniors” than ever before. Roughly 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day. By 2035 it is said that there will be more baby boomers (over 65) than people under 18 in the United States.

“The question the chiropractic profession and its educational institutions should be asking is whether we are prepared with a workforce to serve this growing geriatric population,” writes David O’Bryon, JD, CAE.

Here are the Top 5 most popular chiropractic industry news articles from 2021:

5. Yochum first chiropractor admitted to International Skeletal Society

BY CE STAFF
Terry R. Yochum, DC, DACBR, became the first chiropractor accepted to the International Skeletal Society (ISS). A press release tells the story, “Renowned medical radiologist Dr. Harold Jacobsen was impressed with the answers Dr. Terry R. Yochum threw out in an open quiz forum at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago. The year was 1982. Who was this young upstart? Jacobsen asked afterward, “Do you do bones, boy?”

4. Motion EMG showing ‘muscle guarding’ is courting personal injury wins for chiropractors and patients

BY RICK VACH
The device has resulted in millions of dollars won in personal injury cases and has become the gold standard for personal injury attorneys who work with chiropractors. This was exemplified in Merritt vs. the Florida Department of Health (DOH), one of the first big wins for the device. “When it is just yourself and one main attorney against 300 insurers, 75 attorneys and nine expert witnesses, the probability of winning was so low,” he said. “We won all the way to the Florida Supreme Court, twice.”

3. Preventing hip surgery or replacement

By DANIEL KEADLE, DC
In the United States, 3-7% of older adults will deal with some form of hip osteoarthritis during their lifetime. “Osteoarthritis” or “OA” is the proper term for overuse or age-related degenerative joint conditions. While there are other types of hip problems such as fractures or soft-tissue injuries, the majority of people will be diagnosed with and seek care for the degenerative type in preventing hip surgery.

2. Functional medicine needs functional medicine chiropractors

By ANTHONY CRIFASE, DC, CNS, DACBN, LDN
It takes a holistic approach to treating the entire body, and not just specific pain. This is critical as the world is facing more health challenges today than ever before. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, there are “369 diseases and injuries with 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories.” With so many potential illnesses that can plague us, one thing is clear: Prevention of disease must become the goal of both patients and physicians.

1. Will the chiropractor industry prepare for a doctor shortage?

By DAVID S. O’BRYON, JD, CAE
The medical professions projected a severe shortage of doctors to serve a growing population and increased enrollment in medical schools by 30%. In a similar fashion osteopathic schools increased enrollment by doubling the number of schools and growing graduation rates from 1,500 to 4,500 DOs per year … We will be competing with other health professions for students in what is a shrinking demographic pool of students attending undergraduate schools.

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