A few days ago, I posted about the perpetuation of spinal myths in common mass media markets such as television. It just so happens that both video clips that I shared in the article involved chiropractors.
There are plenty of physicians and physical therapists out there that are quick to point their fingers at what chiropractors do. Many that are pointing fingers at chiropractors about practice patterns and excessive numbers of visits are the same ones applying ultrasound 3 times per week, using yellow theraband forever, and manipulating because they can – not because it is necessary. As the saying goes, when you point a finger, three point back at you … and who knows where the thumb stands on the issue.
With that said, I would suggest that the chiropractic profession has provided three valuable lessons that physical therapists could benefit from learning.
The date is May 8. For many, it’s just another day on the calendar. But for me, it’s more than just any old date. It is a day to remember two legends. It is a day to remember two people that had a huge impact on my world - for totally different reasons.
May 8 is bluesman Robert Johnson’s birthday. This year is the 101st anniversary of his birth. May 8 is also the date of Gilles Villeneuve’s death, now a somber 30 years ago.
This day brings joy in knowing what these two legends contributed to my world. But it also brings sadness with reflection on that sad day 30 years ago.
You can see it happen on either end of the continuum. And it happens all the way from white collar to blue collar, from elite athlete to couch potato, and all points in between.
Some people need to get out of their heads. And some people need to get into their heads.
I know plenty of people that are constantly existing within their own heads. They are mulling things over, pondering, obsessing about issues that are really non-issues and weighing the ramifications of the results of pondering those same issues that seem to be weighing heavily on … well, I think you get the idea. Paralysis of analysis prevents action and forward motion from taking place. Instead of just “doing”, there is drama. And lots of it.
Then there are the people who really do need to get into their own heads.
This is the 15th in a series of RunSmart videos. The series is on-going, with a new video released on a biweekly basis. These videos complement the material presented in the book “RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running”. The full series of videos can be found here. A compilation of the first 10 videos will be available on Vimeo as well.
For those of you that are interested in a more interactive learning environment, consider attending a Level One (half day), Level Two (one day), or Level Three (two day) RunSmart program. The Level One program is 4 hours and focuses on basic training principles, running mechanics, and injury prevention. The Level Two program is 8.5 hours and focuses on performance optimization and training program development. The Level Three program is a two day, 15 hour program that includes a comprehensive approach to running injuries. The next Level One program will be offered in Austin on June 3, 2012. The next Level Three program will be offered in Reno, Nevada on May 5 – 6, 2012 at the University of Nevada.
In this video, I discuss an issue that seems to be trendy amongst runners these days – barefoot running. We would do well to learn a lesson or two from the old-school track coaches. I think they may have had the right approach to running footwear 30 or more years ago.
It is as though a hush fell over the crowd. After a bazillion Republican presidential debates, countless nasty ads, and a race that looked more like Survivor than it did a presidential candidacy, there is now - silence. College basketball is over. More silence. College football is still a few months away. More silence.
But there always seems to be a way to find the irony – or humor – or both in tandem in our daily news. Truth is, without doubt, stranger than fiction. Just turn on your television and you will see what I mean. A click of the dial (hey, I am old school) will put you front and center with Dr. Oz, Jerry Springer, Oprah, Sports Center, FOX News, and the Real Housewives of Orange County. Wow. How times have changed. That’s a long way from the Little Rascals and the nightly news.
This episode of the Rhubarb Report brings sport to the forefront – or at least what we once considered sport.
Low back pain is now officially the poster child for health care mythology. It has come to represent all that is wrong with the health care world and many of the practitioners that work within that world. It reminds us of all that is wrong with reimbursement models. It is a fine example of paying lip service to clinical guidelines and research.
And with that said, all of these things that low back pain now represents are being perpetuated because it is now part of the collective psyche of the masses. It is now on TV, going out to millions of viewers.
Thank you, Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil.
It just happens that chiropractic care is the theme of both of these episodes. But it is not the chiropractic care that concerns me – it is the value system espoused and the promotion of passivity in a world of spinal pain that should be promoting active solutions that foster patient independence.
There is but one reality that we all experience. But out of one reality emerges many perceptions and beliefs. Some are well-grounded in science and logic – others, not so much.
We each develop our own model of reality, and we select data to confirm our biases. We can choose to consider and reflect upon all of the available data – and integrate that into our model – or we can choose to simply select that which is self-serving.
This has been brought to my attention a number of times recently. Sometimes, perhaps more than we would like to believe, beliefs and perceptions win out over good science, reasoning, outcomes, and results. Beliefs and perceptions can in fact prevent solutions from becoming realistic and successful long-term options.
I will admit – this approach to life has never made sense to me.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.