Retracting vs. Reacting

Editor's note: This is the last post by Dr. Sanford Black. Dr. Black was a great chiropractor and an even better friend. I miss his gentle nature and sage advice. I tell all of my chiropractic students that they are a beautiful painting that is always being worked on. Your loved ones, friends, mentors and colleagues continually get an opportunity to put brush strokes on your painting. Some put more colors and bigger brush strokes than others, but everyone you come in contact with have an opportunity to paint on your life. I appreciate Dr. Black's contributions to my chiropractic understanding. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share his message with the chiropractic world.

Reaction vs. Retracing

In Chiropractic Philosophy these two terms are not the same and should never be used interchangeably.

Early clinical observations noted that a patient often seemed to pass through each phase that they had passed through in getting to the point of their first Chiropractic care. Usually it was determined to be a t a lesser degree of severity and for a shorter term of time.

Explanation of this to the new patient prior to the start of the patient’s care was helpful in the education of the patient. This was a noticeable occurrence that the patient could see, and gave the patient positive knowledge that his Chiropractic care was to be successful. This retracting, noted by the Chiropractor, and also instilled confidence that the patient is responding in the desired way.

On the other hand, the term “Reaction” often has the connotation of adverse reaction as commonly referred to as “side effects”. In many cases it will indicate to the Chiropractor that his analysis and delivery of the vertebral adjustment are not correcting the vertebral subluxation and need to be re-studied. An example, one of many, could be when the patient experiences vertigo right after receiving the adjustic thrust. This has been clinically noted in those cases that fail to respond and obtain the expected improvement.

Disorders of function respond so predictably and so readily to Vertebral Adjustment that many Chiropractors seek this type of patient primarily and, thus, avoid the “pain abatement” type of practice. They have found that the results of correct analysis and precision vertebral adjusting result in the conclusion, “IT WORKS”; just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.

Get the Idea

Editor's note: This week's post is the seventh of nine short articles by the late Dr. Sanford Black.

Chiropractic Philosophy

Chiropractic Philosophy covers discussions of many different subjects. Many “How Comes”, “Whys?” and “Maybes”. One would think that after sixty years of direct Chiropractic and having been in active practice over fifty-four years this writer would be free of those unanswerable questions.

There has always been one question paramount in my mind. It has been asked of others many times and never seems to be taken seriously or given any important thought. The question can be stated very simply; “Why does the Innate response to different adjustments of different vertebra in different areas of the spine often result in a patient’s response being almost the same?”

The analysis and listing for a vertebral subluxation in the Atlanto-Occipital area will result in the Chiropractor adjusting and correcting the cause of many different subjective symptoms. The patient will be very pleased with the responses and be happy they were lucky to “Find a Good Chiropractor”.

Again this same patient may, at a different time and place, contact a different Chiropractor. Analysis and listings may cause this Chiropractor to decide that the first Thoracic Vertebra is subluxated and causing symptoms described in the initial consultation, and incidentally they are a group of symptoms very similar to the ones that the former Chiropractor dealt with successfully.

Why is success gained by both Chiropractors? Is it true that there is only one cause and one correction? Conversely, the question could be, “Why does a patient not respond to Vertebral Adjustments regardless of the analysis and listings? Does this mean that some patients have become “Hopeless Cases?”

An early days Chiropractor has often been quoted, “Get the Idea and All Else Follows”. Does this mean for a Chiropractor to find the vertebral subluxation, correctly adjust same and gorge ahead? Just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk?