The Chiropractic Trust has been developed to protect, preserve, advance, develop, and adamantly defend the practice of Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic. It is necessary to create a Standards of Care position paper to provide the non-therapeutic straight chiropractor (herein referred to as NTSC) with basic standards of care. This Standards of Care will enable the NTSC field practitioner to possess guidelines to understand the parameters of this type of practice, as well as to help the NTSC provide quality chiropractic care while helping to ensure the safety of the people being served.  

The Chiropractic Trust recognizes that chiropractic is an art (based on science and philosophy) and that no two chiropractors are alike, so there may be some room for variations in analysis and technique. The objective of care, however, should be universal among chiropractors in the non-therapeutic model.    

1.    Defining the Practice of Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic  

Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic is defined as the analysis and facilitation of the correction of vertebral subluxations because they are detrimental to the expression of innate intelligence. The NTSC emphasizes that the presence of a vertebral subluxation supersedes the presence or absence of any subjective complaints and is enough to warrant a chiropractic adjustment to correct the vertebral subluxation. The area of paramount interest to the NTSC is exclusively the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations.  

In addition to the objective assessment and correction of vertebral subluxations, chiropractic care includes the education of the practice member/patient to facilitate his/her understanding of the significance of the vertebral subluxation, and the importance of correcting and maintaining its correction. The NTSC considers anything else outside the scope of the NTSC. NTSCs are aware that there are other factors the practice member might engage in to pursue greater well-being and influence their ability to reach their fullest potential. The single factor that the NTSC focuses on is the detection and correction of the vertebral subluxation.   (See also “Position Paper #1 – What Is Non-Therapeutic Straight Chiropractic?” and “Position Paper #2 – What Is a Vertebral Subluxation?”)    

2.    Education for the Public/Practice Member

The uniqueness of chiropractic requires thorough communication and proper education to our practice members to provide quality service and to help ensure safety. The NTSC is expected to have a well-organized system of education consisting of an initial consultation/orientation to:

a.    inform and educate the public as to what chiropractic is (and is not),

b.    how it is practiced in the office (objective), and

c.    what is to be expected (analysis, technique, visit frequency, etc.).  

The practice member should have all the information necessary for informed consent before beginning care. It is also expected that the NTSC will provide further information and education as needed for each practice member on a regular basis.  

It is recommended that the NTSC have some written terms of acceptance for each practice member to read and sign (parents will read and sign for minors). This will allow the new member to see in writing a synopsis of the objective of the NTSC. An example of a “Terms of Acceptance” may look like the following:  

Terms of Acceptance  

When a person seeks the services of a chiropractor, it is essential to fully understand the objective of the chiropractor.  

It is not the intent of a chiropractor to diagnose, treat, or attempt to cure any physical, mental, or emotional ailments or to give advice about any ailments or treatments.  

The only objective of this office is to keep the body as free as possible from vertebral subluxations. We do this because of our absolute conviction that a body is better able to live up to its full potential when no vertebral subluxations are present and for no other reason.    

3.    Chiropractic Analysis and Technique  

There are many safe analyses and techniques taught throughout the chiropractic educational system and profession. The purpose of the chiropractic analysis is to determine the need for chiropractic care (presence of a vertebral subluxation) and the most effective way of administering an adjustment. It should only include procedures necessary to fulfill that objective. It is expected that the chiropractic analysis:  

a.    has some scientific and philosophical basis,

b.    is as objective as possible,

c.    assesses for the presence of vertebral subluxations, and

d.    includes a post-check.  

The NTSC understands that the chiropractic service provided is not a crisis service, and recognizes that it is the innate intelligence of the body that makes the adjustment. The NTSC, therefore, is to be as specific and gentle in his/her analysis and in introducing a force to the spine for facilitating an adjustment.  

It is the responsibility of the NTSC to be highly proficient at the analysis and technique of his/her choosing. The NTSC is expected to consistently improve on his/her skillset.  

The initial consultation/interview should determine if there are any contraindications to adjusting the spine or determine the need for any other intervention. If, however, during the analysis the NTSC encounters a finding outside his/her scope of practice, the NTSC should:  

a.    ask the practice member if he/she is aware of it,

b.    if he/she knows about it, and, as it is being addressed, note it and proceed accordingly,

c.    if he/she is not aware of it, explain what was found in layman’s terms, and

d.    let the practice member determine where to go next to have it further evaluated.  

If the practice member is uncomfortable during the initial visit or during any analysis, a non-crisis approach will be taken. This may include more education, limited vertebral subluxations addressed (above and/or below questionable area), and even waiting for a further visit to address any vertebral subluxations after any other issue is addressed by whomever the practice member chooses to see for further evaluation. The NTSC must note this finding and the discussion with the practice member.  

At no point should the NTSC offer a diagnosis. The sole objective of the NTSC is to locate, analyze, and facilitate the correction of vertebral subluxations.  

Non-therapeutic straight chiropractic is non-diagnostic by the nature of its objective. Since the NTSC does not treat medical conditions but exclusively addresses the vertebral subluxation, the only determination that needs to be made is whether the person entering the office has a vertebral subluxation or not and what type of adjustment can be safely performed on the person.  

A finding outside the scope of chiropractic does not necessarily mean that chiropractic service must be stopped. When in doubt, it is expected that the NTSC will always err on the side of safety for the practice member.    

4.    Documentation and Paperwork  

Every new practice member that chooses to start care must fill out basic paperwork collecting whatever information the chiropractor may require, in accordance with their state law, and sign a Terms of Acceptance. The NTSC is expected to keep daily records of each person served in his/her office, and the records will reflect the objective of the chiropractor. It is recommended that each chiropractor review his/her individual state laws on this subject.  

5.    Recommendations of Frequency of Care/Service  

The NTSC practices with the understanding that vertebral subluxations can potentially occur daily and that having one’s spine checked regularly and consistently will ensure the highest quality of service provided. The recommendations for visit frequency will reflect the need to make chiropractic an ongoing maintenance/habit service and will be at the chiropractor’s discretion based on the analysis and technique used.   (See Position Paper #4 – Recommendations for Chiropractic Care)