In addition to actually conducting research the FVS also supports a team of researchers through its scholarship program with eight current Fellowships having been granted. The FVS, through its Advancing Futures program, seeks to provide scholarships to individuals who assist in carrying out the Research Agenda of the organization.
Advancing Futures is our best hope at accomplishing a collaborative, organized movement to research subluxation. The FVS' research agenda seeks to validate the profession and position chiropractic as a vitalistic, scientific, evidence informed clinical practice. The more research, the greater the chance the profession will have of gaining a higher degree of respect, understanding and acceptance in the health care marketplace, the scientific community and among the patients it serves. It is imperative to make these new research advancements available to the public, other health professions, and to legislators in order to promote and to systematically advance the field of subluxation centered chiropractic through the initiation of favorable public health policy.
Current evidence suggests that vertebral subluxation is detrimental to human health and function and as such chiropractors who manage subluxation feel an ethical and moral obligation to screen and educate the public on what it believes is a significant public health threat. To that effect this agenda also includes the marketing of the agenda itself and the results of its research endeavors in an effort to increase utilization of vertebral subluxation screening and management.
According to the President of the Foundation Christopher Kent JD, DC "A void in research conducted by chiropractic institutions are investigations focused specifically on vertebral subluxation." Kent continued "the chiropractic research agenda developed by the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation addresses this challenge."
Evidence informed chiropractic practice requires quality research addressing the reliability and validity of chiropractic analytical methods, efficacy and effectiveness of chiropractic adjusting techniques in reducing indicators of vertebral subluxation, and evaluating the health benefits and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care.
Many chiropractors believe that the reason we don’t have cultural authority on subluxation is due to lack of agreement on defining vertebral subluxation. “Nothing could be farther from the truth” stated Matthew McCoy DC, MPH Vice President of the FVS. “In fact there is widespread agreement in the scientific literature on the biomechanical and neurological components of vertebral subluxation.”
According to both Kent and McCoy the problem isn’t that the profession disagrees on the definition of subluxation, it’s that supposed chiropractic researchers are not using the term in their research or worse - equate it with things like “joint dysfunction” and/or equate “spinal manipulation” with the chiropractic adjustment. This is a fatal mistake. These things are not synonymous.
We are at a crossroads in chiropractic. A time where we may lose our identity or forge forward with chiropractic leading the new paradigm of health and well-being. As practitioners, we see the evidence of chiropractic adjustments every day in our practices. To us, it is undeniable. But in terms of substantiating ourselves with the value and recognition we deserve, we are in dire need of this Research Agenda to gain our rightful position: leaders in the location, analysis and correction of vertebral subluxation.
There are so many things one could focus on. The question is what should the focus be? The FVS believes the focus should be on the role of vertebral subluxation and the result of its correction/reduction on health. Through basic and clinical science research, advocating for favorable policy, revising educational standards and service the FVS seeks to place vertebral subluxation at the forefront.
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