How many times have you heard chiropractors get up in front of a room and start talking about all the people they've helped, all the people chiropractic helps every day, all the people they've healed of this or that disease, etc?

Having grown up in chiropractic circles, I've had the opportunity to hear lots of "old timers" speak on the subject of chiropractic, chiropractic miracles, subluxation, politics etc.

I love to listen to these pioneers talk, whether it's one-on-one or before a large group. They have such a rich history and deep wisdom to pass on to the future generations of young chiropractors who will carry on their work.

I've also had the opportunity to hear lots of young, inspired chiropractors with large practices talk about the hundreds or thousands of people they see every week and all the miracles they see day in and day out. I also love to listen to them since it encourages me and is a reminder of the power and potential of the adjustment.

The problem with all this is that it's all anecdotal — and anecdotes are just above folklore and just below the Case Study in the hierarchy of research.

I don't care how many files and how many x-rays you have of patients who have been healed of every disease in the Merck Manual, if it isn't written up and published in a peer reviewed journal, our profession and future patients are deprived of the benefits of your experience.

The inspiring talk becomes just that: talk. True, it may inspire, motivate and infuse you with the courage to confront your patients and overcome the hurdles of patient education and compliance.

But wouldn't it be nicer if you didn't need to spend all the energy you do trying to get "pumped up" by the latest chiropractic savior?

What if people knew they needed to see you? Does the average person know what cancer is? Of course not. They don't have a clue as to the details of its histological characteristics, epidemiology and nature. But the average person knows about the need to get screened for it and seek care if the tests come back positive.

My point is not to get into the nuances and controversy of the multi billion-dollar cancer industry. My point is this — why doesn't society have the same appreciation for chiropractors and the service we provide? Why do we still only see 10-15% of the population? Where the heck is the hundredth monkey? (Note: click here if you're unfamiliar with the concept of the "hundredth monkey".)

Consider the following shocking statistics:

I maintain that the hundredth monkey is waiting to see the facts before he washes his fruit and we have simply failed to provide those facts. Even if some faction of the profession wanted to say they were more scientific than some other group, the above facts still stare back at all of us. This is a profession wide problem in need of a profession wide solution and the first step is for each one of us to say: "I am responsible."

Practitioners must engage themselves in the process. Too many graduate from chiropractic college, step into practice and leave behind any memory of scholarly activity. Each member of this profession needs to commit to participating in several research oriented activities every year.

This could be simply subscribing to a peer reviewed chiropractic journal, donating money to a chiropractic research association and attending a scientific symposium.

Those practitioners who have been fortunate enough to amass a small fortune must step forward and put some of that money to use in chiropractic research. Build a building and put your name on it if that's what it takes. The next time you hear a chiropractic guru tell you how many thousands of patient visits he sees every week, ask him how much of the money he's raking in has been donated for chiropractic research.

The next time you hear chiropractors brag about all the people they've gotten out of wheelchairs, ask them why they haven't written those cases up, subjected them to peer-review and attempted publication.

When they says they just don't have the time because they're seeing 2,000 patients a week, ask why they haven't hired somebody to do it for them. There are lots of underpaid, under appreciated faculty at chiropractic colleges who would love to help.

Every practitioner must commit to taking an interesting case from his or her office and compiling a case study and submitting it to a peer reviewed chiropractic journal.

I know plenty of chiropractors who will stay up all night writing a narrative to collect $2,000 on a PIP claim but cringe at the idea of writing a simple case study. Others who are more inclined need to engage in more advanced forms of practice based research.

The next time you wonder why that HMO won't let you on their plan, or why the government doesn't recognize us, or why that last new patient never came back, or why the state board is attacking your technique – take a look in the mirror and say these words: "I am responsible."

(Matthew McCoy, D.C., is presently Editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (www.jvsr.com), and an Instructor at Life University College of Chiropractic. He has practiced in both the United States and Russia since graduating from Life in 1989. Dr. McCoy has pursued extensive Post Graduate training and maintains active involvement in several chiropractic political and research organizations including: The Council on Chiropractic Practice, World Chiropractic Alliance, The Chiropractic Advocacy Council, International Chiropractor's Association, Council on Applied Chiropractic Science, Council on Chiropractic Clinical Science, Georgia Council of Chiropractic, Academy of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Organizations and The International Spinal Health Institute. He is also a member of the Post Graduate Faculty of Life University College of Chiropractic. A sought-after speaker and expert witness, he can be reached at editor@jvsr.com).