Calling subluxation based chiropractors “unacceptable creatures” chiropractic researcher Keith H Charlton DC, MPhil, MPainMed, PhD, FICC, recently stated “. . . that it is no longer scientifically acceptable for any responsible chiropractic clinician to ever use the word subluxation except as theory . . .” Charlton made the comment to members of the Chiropractic Research Alliance a group of subluxation deniers who routinely disparage the concept of subluxation.
Charlton is a well known “Subluxation Denier” and frequently attacks subluxation based chiropractors in his peer reviewed research papers and on Facebook groups. According to Charlton in a paper published in the journal Chiropractic and Osteopathy:
"The dogma of subluxation is perhaps the greatest single barrier to professional development for chiropractors. It skews the practice of the art in directions that bring ridicule from the scientific community and uncertainty among the public.”
In his most recent statement on January 5, 2017 Charlton further stated:
“We need NOW in 2017 and beyond to get rid of the quacks that do us so much harm. They need to be treated personally and professionally as utterly unacceptable creatures to be shunned and opposed at every turn. Time to get going on cleaning out the trash. And that includes all signs, websites, literature, handouts and speech of staff and chiropractors.”
Charlton practices in Australia where subluxation based chiropractors have been under attack for years – especially in regards to children. In fact, Charlton has testified against subluxation based chiropractors in regulatory board actions and appears to revel in it.
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Charlton received his chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois, graduating in 1975 and he claims to hold the following degrees:
- A Master of Philosophy degree from Griffith University in Brisbane, for original research in diagnostic imaging
- A Master of Pain Medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine at Newcastle University, he claims he is the first chiropractor in the world to hold this degree
- A Doctor of Philosophy degree in Medicine at the Mayne Medical School at University of Queensland, for research on spinal bone motion imaging
In his most recent pronouncement Charlton states that he is okay with subluxation as a “regional spine shape distortion” and asserts that this is a CBP subluxation. This contention is common with subluxation deniers who are willing to accept an orthopedic definition of subluxation absent the neurological component.
Contrary to these statements Charlton states he uses the following techniques on his website:
- Applied Kinesiology
- Diversified
- Motion Palpation
- Sacro-Occipital Technique
- Activator
- Logan Basic
When this self-declared scientist was confronted with his use of Applied Kinesiology and these other techniques his response was essentially that he is engaging in a “bait and switch” and that he just has those on his website to get patients who are looking for those things.
