THE BONE AND JOINT DECADE TASK FORCE REPORT SHOWS SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS The Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Associated Disorders published its report on January 8 in the peer-reviewed journal Spine. The report has been compiled by an elite multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians led by the task force president, Dr. Scott Haldeman of Santa Ana, California, and reflects the results of a six year study. In conducting its exhaustive review of the available published research on neck pain, the Neck Pain Task Force considered almost 32,000 research citations and undertook critical appraisal of more than 1,000 research studies that met relevance and admission criteria. The Task Force report synthesizes the best available current evidence on the onset, course and prognosis, assessment and management of neck pain, and includes the results of several original research studies. The work of the Task Force and its findings address all health professions that treat neck pain. In addition to its literature review, the Neck Pain Task Force conducted several pieces of original research. Of particular interest to the chiropractic profession is the stroke study, conducted under the auspices of Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario, Canada. Some of the top-line findings of the study include the following: Neck pain including whiplash associated disorders should be classified into a common system and the Neck Pain Task Force recommends four grades: • Grade 1: neck pain with little or no interference with daily activities. • Grade 2: neck pain that limits daily activities. • Grade 3: neck pain accompanied by radiculopathy (“pinched nerve” – pain weakness and/or numbness in the arm). • Grade 4: neck pain with serious pathology, such as tumour, fracture, infection, systemic disease; it was beyond the mandate of the task force to study Grade 4 neck pain. Chiropractic manipulation, along with acupuncture, exercise and education, among other measures, is recommended for Grades 1 and 2 neck pain. All health-care providers are encouraged to conduct a thorough patient history, physical examination and patient self-assessment questionnaire to identify or rule out Grades 3 or 4 neck pain, e.g. radiculopathy, tumour, fracture, infection, systemic disease. And, of stroke the findings are as follows: Cervical manipulation is a reasonable option for people with Grade 1 or 2 neck pain. The risk of vertebrobasilar (VBA) stroke associated with a visit to a chiropractor’s office appears to be no different from the risk of stroke following a visit to an MD’s office. It is likely that patients in the early stages of VBA stroke are presenting to both chiropractors and family doctors because of neck pain and headache due to preexisting vertebral artery dissection which is a risk factor for VBA stroke. VBA dissection and stroke is extremely rare and there is no practical way to screen neck pain and headache patients for this problem. For a complete summary of findings, please visit www.wfc.org. The WFC welcomes this important work that helps inform all health care providers who treat neck pain, and sheds further light on the efficacy and safety of chiropractic adjustment. The stroke study in particular provides the profession with additional research on this issue which will support ongoing inter-professional dialogue and education. The WFC acknowledges the assistance of many, including the WFC Research Council, the WFC Council and the Canadian Chiropractic Association, in the preparation of this notice to members. NEW YORK PUBLISHER EMBRACES IRON MAN CHIROPRACTOR’S INSPIRATIONAL NEW BOOK Embracing the Journey of Recovery is an ideal book to support recovering patients at addiction treatment centres across the world. Forget about James Frey’s horrifi c and embellished descriptions in A Million Little Pieces. We all know the shocking and alarming reality of alcohol and drug addiction. But what can we do about it? Dr. Larry Smith, a Canadian chiropractor, reveals the simple yet profound truth about addiction recovery in Embracing the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph! (Morgan James Publishing, August 2007). For the past eight years, Dr. Smith has been successfully recovering from the cunning and perplexing syndrome of addiction. After triumphantly crossing the fi nish line of the 2006 Subaru Iron Man Canada Triathlon, Dr. Smith was inspired to attain yet another goal – and today his inspirational new book has been picked up by Morgan James Publishing, New York, and is now available at bookstores nationwide and on the web at: Amazon.com. “Any person recovering from any life threatening illness will benefi t from Embracing the Journey of Recovery. This is an ideal book to provide for in-patents at any of the world’s many addiction treatment centres,” says David L. Hancock, Morgan James’ Publishing Founder. Embracing the Journey of Recovery reveals the remarkable story of two ordinary, yet courageous, individuals and their astonishing recoveries from life-threatening illnesses (cancer and addiction). “Chiropractors are an integral part of the health-care system and we have a tremendous role in helping persons recover from life threatening illnesses,” states Dr. Smith. “Each one of us has our own story and our own journey. I truly hope that people realize it is always possible to turn tragedy into triumph.” This book will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering and loss. If you conscientiously and faithfully follow the necessary steps outlined in its chapters you can absolutely and confi - dently turn tragedy into triumph. To begin your journey of recovery, you can purchase this book at: Amazon.com, or at bookstores nationwide. An immediate sneak peek download of this inspirational new book is now available at: http://Embracingthejourneybook. Com or for more information, contact Dr. Larry Smith at drlarr@shaw.ca BRAVO TO THE ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA CHIROPRATICI! Number of years since the Associazione Italiana Chiropractici (AIC) was formed – 33. Number of years since the fi rst proposal for an amendment to the Italian budget law – 17. Number of chiropractors in Italy – 300. Finally achieving professional recognition for chiropractors – priceless! December 21, 2007, saw the legal acceptance of chiropractic as a primary health-care profession in the country of Italy. This came in the form of an amendment inserted into the annual budget law which opened the doors for the profession to join Italy’s nationalized health-care system. The profession owes a debt of gratitude to Senator Luigi Lusi who fi rst presented the amendment and almost single-handedly guided it out of the Senate’s Budget Committee, thus assuring acceptance from the Senate itself. The proposed amendment was taken to the Camera – the lower house of Italy’s bi-cameral parliament – where it was attacked by lobbyists from the Italian Medical Association – which has been trying, for years, to monopolize non-conventional therapies – and the Italian Health Minister – who is notoriously against recognizing chiropractic as a primary health-care profession. The AIC adeptly responded, ‘blow-by-blow’, by lobbying and rallying the support of several parliamentarians. Senator Lusi – who is with the Margherita Party of the Majority – tirelessly persisted in his conviction to attain recognition for the profession by emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic in a system so burdened with health-care costs. Bi-partisan support evolved through the On. Manuela Di Centa, who is the Deputy from the opposition party, Forza Italia – and a former world cross-country skiing champion whose career was prolonged through chiropractic. This bi-partisan collaboration, on the part of the majority and opposition parties, secured the passage of the amendment, thereby recognizing chiropractic within the Italian medical system. Dr. John Williams writes: “When Senator Lusi presented us with this opportunity, the AIC organized an impromptu lobbying center in Rome, connected in real time with the secretaries at the AIC headquarters in Genoa, to coordinate and promote the passage of this amendment….but the real difference between this…and many failed attempts…lies in the commitment demonstrated by Senator Lusi and On. Di Centa.” The AIC, and indeed, the entire chiropractic profession, thank Senator Lusi and On. Di Centa for their work in bringing about this fantastic development. The AIC will be celebrating this extraordinary victory, for chiropractic, from June 26-28, 2008 in Rimini, Italy, while hosting the return of the Parker Seminars to Europe. Says Dr. Williams: “You’re all invited to help make this a memorable event for the entire profession!”