Bruce Lee Would Have Been a Great Chiropractor
Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 08:52PM Chiropractic is a lot like martial arts. For one thing, the chiropractor accomplishes his purposes through contact with another person. Granted, the martial artist is trying to hurt the opponent and the adjuster is trying to help the patient heal . . . but you catch my drift.
Also, just as there is a myriad of ways to fight, the techniques available to the chiropractor are also many in number. There is the widespread, most-used Diversified technique, the Gonstead technique, Chiropractic Biophysics. Some doctors use the Activator (the one that utilizes the clicking instrument). Pettibon. Drop Table. SOT. Hole-in-One.
And on and on.
We even have some non-traditional techniques that incorporate more of a light touch to the back instead of the usual thrust to the vertebra. Examples of this include Network and B.E.S.T. techniques.
And just like the traditional martial artists, chiropractors for decades have, for the most part, latched on to one style. A style that seemed to suit them best. Then just like the black belt in karate who always uses karate against his opponents, or the Tae Kwon Do master who always fights with Tae Kwon Do, the Gonstead chiropractor would tend to adjust each and every patient the Gonstead way. The Activator doctor always with the activator. And on and on... you catch my drift.
Then along comes Bruce Lee.
He teaches his students to be like water. Formless. Flowing. Finding shape only in accordance to the environment and opposing forces. Instead of imposing our style on the other, we should adapt form and flow to what the opponent dictates.
Chiropractors must do the same. We should not trap ourselves to rigid technique boundaries that force us to care for our patients with predetermined styles, strict protocols, and inflexible care plans.
We need to approach each patient as an individual and adapt our clinical adjustments according to their specific and unique needs. If Mrs. Sakai, an 80 year old woman, needs the light touch of an activator, go at it that way. If the next patient, Kealii, a FedEx handler needs a strong side posture diversified thrust to L-5, go get 'em, bro!
Reader Comments (2)
Hey, hit me up on the email, I would like to discuss some chiropractic with you. By the way, great site.
Wow! I think you are so dead on with this, Dr. Shiraki (or should I say, Brother Shiraki?). Anyway, I love this post. What about individual chiropractic schools, though? Are there some schools that focus more on particular techniques than others? (Are there some I should stay away from?)
Thanks!