One of the primary reasons that chiropractic is not the number one choice for health care is that chiropractors limit their capabilities. Why do we do this? My thinking is that it’s a matter of shoe size. Well, not really! But the following article explains, with some humor thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!
-Dr. Terry A. Rondberg
The Philosophy of Feet
Some chiropractors see themselves merely as a secondary “complement” to medicine. The message they convey is, “If drugs don’t work for that sore back, come to me and I’ll try to relieve the pain.”
Chiropractors may also restrict themselves to those patients who present a list of symptoms. After the patient is relieved of these symptoms, the chiropractor relieves himself from providing further care.
Many subluxation centered doctors limit themselves to providing adjustments to correct existing subluxations, rather than looking at the big picture and performing what they can to prevent subluxations from occurring.
I read a fascinating article by Will Tickel, DC, whose book “Stirrin’ it Up! A baby boomer’s look at Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Imperfect Bliss,” is as insightful as it is funny. Dr. Tickel’s article reminded me of one of Dr. James Parker’s sayings, “Don’t let the size of your shoes determine the growth of your feet.”
Dr. Tickel applied this same premise to the use of orthotics in his article, “Don’t let the shape of their shoes interfere with the growth of their being.” He persuasively argued that, “philosophically, orthotics support the concept of vitalism.” That’s a lot to ask from insoles, but it’s absolutely true. The concept of vitalism boils down to the simple notion that the body has an inherent self healing mechanism. Chiropractic philosophy states that a DC’s job is to facilitate that mechanism and when possible, remove interference that can hinder it.
When a patient suffers foot deviation such as over pronation or unequal gait, that biomechanical imbalance serves as interference to the innate healing process and can be a direct cause of subluxations.
As Dr. Tickel said, “When the reflex relationship of the feet to the entire organism is considered, foot biomechanics sensory awareness and afferentation – becomes a crucial step in the healing and restorative process, as well as in the maintenance of health and disease prevention. From a healing perspective, custom orthotics greatly aid the body’s adaptive or adjustive capabilities.”
If chiropractors continue limiting themselves, they may not be open to providing orthotics to their patients, or addressing this basic cause of subluxations. Thus, their patients are deprived of an extra level of care.
DCs must cautiously decide which services and products to provide for patients, and should use only what contributes to patient health. For business matters, chiropractors should focus on services and products which do not demand unreasonable amounts of time and effort.
When choosing to help remove the interference caused by improper foot biomechanics, doctors must decide which orthotics to offer. As Will Tickel pointed out, chiropractors should not let the shape of their patients’ shoes interfere with the growth of their being and should not allow their limited ideas of chiropractic interfere with the growth of their practice and profession.
Terry Rondberg, D.C. is Founder and CEO of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), an international organization that promotes subluxation-based chiropractic. A leading figure in the health care community, Dr. Rondberg is dedicated to promoting health and wellness. Dr. Rondberg, is an accomplished author, public speaker, educator and advocate of drug-free chiropractic. 
