Diagnosis vs. Analysis

Editor's note: This is the eighth installment of a series of chiropractic philosophy short essays by Dr. Sanford Black. Dr. Black was a 1947 graduate of the Palmer School of Chiropractic and practiced in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Chiropractic Philosophy

Diagnosis or Chiropractic Analysis? Which is usually used to determine that the new patient is to be accepted for care in the Chiropractic Office? Which is actually so very important in the initial process of determining the case management and the eventual successful care of the Chiropractic Patient?

In Diagnosis, the various and sundry test findings, the observation of the patient, the consultation where initial complaints are noted and added to the other findings. Theses all indicate to the physician that a certain diagnosis may be listed as the “Initial Diagnosis” with the reservation that further into the treatment that diagnosis may be amended or changed entirely.

In Chiropractic Analysis, the Chiropractor initially records a history, including patient’s initial complaints. To determine if there is a Vertebral Subluxation present there are various tests and observations necessary. When it is determined that Vertebral Subluxations are indicated it is then that the location within the spine must be decided. Measurements of the heat differentials in the tissues over the posterior spinal nerves usually give information as to the general location of the Vertebral Subluxation. Palpation and X-Ray Spinographs then give the Chiropractor the knowledge to make the corrective adjustment.

Results of unlimited tests of body fluids will not indicate in any way the location of the Vertebral Subluxation. Results obtained from various chemical stimuli will not indicate the proper way to achieve a correction of a Vertebral Subluxation.

There are no compelling reasons for the Doctor of Chiropractic to even attempt a diagnosis. There are a great number of reasons for him to be absolutely sure that all factors involved in the correction of the subluxation have been correctly determined. The successful results of patient care are dependant on all the things that were observed in the Chiropractic Analysis being correct to the point of perfection. Results then occur naturally, just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.

The Vertebral Subluxation and the Brown Cow

Editor's note. This is the fifth installment of eight essays provided to me by Sanford Black, DC. Dr. Black was a 1947 graduate of the Palmer School of Chiropractic. He was a WWII Veteran and a Blair practitioner in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Chiropractic Philosophy

The modern Chiropractor that has a practice that is based one hundred percent on the Subluxation Complex has the most satisfying and also the very easiest of all categories of Chiropractic Practice. This statement is made without reservations or exceptions. There is one major objective; one supreme requirement; and also one absolute resultant. All else falls within the categories of Practice Management, Patient Management, Office Management, accounting procedure, practice growth procedures and Patient Education. These important procedures are taught in our Chiropractic Colleges and also in the many existent Seminars, but all are secondary to the three major concerns mentioned above.

The Primary or Major Objective in a Chiropractic Practice is the absolutely accurate location, analysis and adjustment of the vertebral subluxations. Many methods of analysis are available. Most Chiropractors use the methods that give them the most accurate analysis and the one that they have the most confidence in. Many Chiropractors have developed a routine of using more than one method in order to have a system of checks and balances to insure that their analysis is nearly one hundred percent correct at all times.

In my opinion, the Supreme Requirement in a Chiropractic Practice is, and must be, knowledge that Chiropractic Works in all patients at all times! Correction, by Chiropractic Adjustment, of the observed Vertebral Subluxations gives the Chiropractor faith, confidence and belief in himself, in his abilities, and , most important, in the Principles of Chiropractic.

The Absolute Resultant occurs with the successful vertebral adjustment. When the occlusion is no longer present the Innate can begin the recovery of the normal functions of the tissues affected. With his test results to tell him that the adjustment was successful, the Chiropractor is free to begin Case Management and Patient Management and to monitor the process of recovery. The absolute ideal would be that there was no further need for adjustments so that the Chiropractor could concentrate on patient care. Patients must be taught that further care and continued monitoring is absolutely essential for their maximum recovery. Patients should be also taught to be referral patients to their friends and family.

As the Chiropractor moves into the success mode, expecting and obtaining excellent results, he begins to realize and understand just how easy that his practice has become. Just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.

Chiropractic Philosophy?

Editor's note. This is the third essay in a series of five from Dr. Sanford Black.

By Dr. Sanford Black

Today’s remarks are not about you and me – just the other feller. Practice mistakes are seldom ever heard about. NO one enjoys telling about their own errors but we can all learn from them. For example, if your patient does not respond properly, as expected, after being adjusted several times over a considerable length of time. A very careful and complete re-Analysis and evaluation is definitely indicated. Once you have discovered your mistake and have been properly horrified by it, your efforts will be rewarded by the patient’s favorable response.

A common mistake that is often made by the Chiropractors is the lack of understanding that we have about the Innate power within the patient’s body. When we make a preliminary consultation we often decide that the patient’s ability to recover is very, very poor. Sometimes we even refer that patient because we fail to have confidence in that particular area of human dysfunction – another mistake.

On occasion the Chiropractor is only considering a “new” acute problem. Research into the patient’s history would have revealed the long standing chronic problem underlying the initial complaint. This is very often a result of hurry and pressure of waiting patients so that enough time was not available for that particular patient.

Each Chiropractic Practice is unique and different. Each has routine procedures that often become locked in concrete. To change even a small detail in an area such as patient traffic within the Clinic is almost impossible – Another mistake!

Another common mistake made by many Chiropractors is their failure to recognize their own professional needs. Sometimes, if the truth were known, the last thin new that the Chiropractor learned was in the last period just before his graduation and award of the D.C. degree. Resistance to change and condemnation of new procedures and other new knowledge is found particularly in the mature Chiropractor in the middle of an advanced successful practice.

Enough of this subject. Philosophy can turn into meddlesome questions unless one is very careful. Just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.

The Brown Cow and Chiropractic Philosophy

Editors Note: This is the second article in a series of small essays given to me by Dr. Sanford Black. Dr. Black was a 1947 graduate from the Palmer School of Chiropractic and practiced Blair Upper Cervical work in Mineral Wells, Texas until he graduated from the physical plane.

Chiropractic Philosophy By Dr. Sanford Black

In philosophical discussions between Doctors of Chiropractic, we often hear statements that really have no true basis in scientific fact. The statements are not based on measurable repeatable data but are based on observations that have been derived from clinical results. Many times the statements describe unexpected results that have resulted from Chiropractic Adjustments of Vertebral Subluxations; Often the Chiropractor will continue by saying that he was adjusting to achieve a completely different result!

A procedure, such as Chiropractic Adjustment of a vertebral subluxation, should always be a repeatable, no-varying process. It should have foreseeable results that are observable and measurable. Its only objective is, or should be, the moving of a Subluxation Complex in such a way that occluded foramina and compressed nerves are corrected to the extent that there no longer is a subluxated vertebra or a Subluxation Complex.

A philosophical discussion and its resulting thoughts often cover a very wide range when it is between like-thinking Chiropractors. We know that a normally functioning system within the human body seems to function automatically and without supervision or outside direction. For instance, food is ingested, processed through the digestive system and waste products form the assimilation process are eliminated. The body has used what it needed and, in some cases, has stored such some of the excess amounts as a hedge against future needs. We also know that the functional control of these processes is within the nervous system. Observation has taught us that a Vertebral Subluxation that is affecting a vital nerve often results in too much or not enough control and often the result is an evidence of malfunction in the digestive system that needs immediate attention. Location and correction of the interference results in a return to normal digestive function. Just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.