The "subluxation" issue: an analysis of chiropractic clinic websites.
Alessandro R Marcon, Blake Murdoch, Timothy Caulfield
PMID 31754460WHAT IT FOUND
Nearly half of Alberta chiropractic clinic websites use the word "subluxation," and one-third present it as a theory causing nerve interference and organ dysfunction.
Eight percent specifically market this concept for children, linking it to conditions like colic, ADHD, and asthma.
Key findings
01Of the 369 clinics with websites, 159 (43%) contained the word "subluxation," and 121 (33%) presented a theory of vertebral subluxation involving nerve interference or organ impact.
02Websites linked subluxation to a wide range of health issues including serious diseases, digestive problems, and specific childhood conditions such as ADHD, bed-wetting, and colic.
03Twenty-nine clinic websites (8%) marketed chiropractic services for children specifically within the context of subluxation theory.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study only examined public-facing websites, so it does not reflect what patients are actually told during clinical consultations. URLs could not be found for 124 of the 493 clinics listed, so the results may not represent all chiropractic practices in Alberta. The analysis did not quantify every specific health claim made, only the presence of the subluxation theory and its general applications. The study was limited to one Canadian province, so findings may not apply to chiropractic marketing in other regions or countries.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these websites represent the views of all chiropractors or the entire profession. The study highlights marketing practices of specific clinics in Alberta, and many chiropractors do not adhere to or promote the vertebral subluxation complex as a cause of disease.