The growing reputation of chiropractic science
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While chiropractors specialise in the spine, they study the entire body |
Chiropractic practice is starting to gain wider recognition in the medical field following presentations by Macquarie University lecturers and students at the 2005 New Zealand Sports Medicine and Science Conference.
Traditionally, the medical field has been somewhat hostile to chiropractors, but thanks to a proactive teaching staff at Macquarie that encourages postgraduate students to publish and present from the outset, the profile of this often misunderstood practice is slowly being enhanced.
The New Zealand conference
The Macquarie Injury Management Group (MIMG) had seven platform presentations at the NZ conference. This followed a similar involvement at a South African Sports Medicine conference earlier in the year.
"Especially rewarding was the fact that this conference was a multidisciplinary gathering where, other than the Macquarie group, only one chiropractor was in attendance," said Senior Lecturer, Dr Henry Pollard. "These forums are important in helping break down the barriers between professions. This has major importance for the chiropractic profession as sports medicine conferences have usually not had a chiropractic presence."
The MIMG spoke on a variety of conditions including golf-related injury, shoulder injury, neck injury in footballers, AFL and hamstring injuries. According to Pollard it was obvious the audience was thinking 'how do they know about joint injuries, don't chiropractors just deal with the spine?'
Misconceptions about chiropractic
While chiropractors specialise in the spine, they study the entire body with medics, osteopaths and physiotherapists teaching in the program at Macquarie. Lecturers in the Department of Health and Chiropractic have a variety of research interests including microbiology, OHS and headache, ageing and public health, sports related injury, radiology, ADHD in kids, asthma, anatomy, neurobiology, pathology and rehabilitation.
Many people are surprised to learn that chiropractic is taught at University. In fact, a double degree is necessary to become registered as a chiropractor. Chiropractic is only taught at three universities in Australia: RMIT in Melbourne, Murdoch University in Perth and Macquarie, which boasts the largest program in the country.
The three-year Bachelor of Chiropractic Science provides a solid foundation in disciplines such as chemistry, physics, biology, physiology and anatomy as well as chiropractic principles and techniques. For those who wish to become registered practitioners, a Master of Chiropractic is required by the various state Chiropractic Registration Boards. A Bachelor of Chiropractic Science, a Bachelor of Science or health-related degree, plus the successful completion of a full-fee paying postgraduate qualifying program for the Master of Chiropractic is required to become a qualified chiropractor.
Each year there are approximately 100 students in Macquarie's coursework Master of Chiropractic program. Currently there are 19 Master of Science or PhD research students. Thirty papers were published or submitted by lecturers or postgraduates in 2005, a significant result for the Department and Macquarie University in general.
"It's been a great year," says Pollard. "Our recognition is improving all the time as research output has increased dramatically over the last two to three years."
The MIMG have just submitted to the American College of Sports Medicine, which is the largest one of its kind in the world, and will present at the Commonwealth Games Sports Medicine Conference early this year.
For further information visit the Department of Health and Chiropractic's website at http://www.chiro.mq.edu.au/ or email Dr Henry Pollard at henry.pollard@mq.edu.au