The “subluxation” issue: an analysis of chiropractic clinic websites

Authors

  • Alessandro R. Marcon Health Law Institute, Law Centre, University of Alberta, 91 University Campus, NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H5, Canada
  • Blake Murdoch Health Law Institute, Law Centre, University of Alberta, 91 University Campus, NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H5, Canada
  • Timothy Caulfield Health Law Institute, Law Centre, University of Alberta, 91 University Campus, NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H5, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-019-0064-5

Keywords:

Chiropractic, Subluxation, Websites, Marketing, Regulation

Abstract

Background: Vertebral subluxation theories are controversial in chiropractic. Divisions are evident in the chiropractic community among those who align their practices to subluxation theories and those who do not. This study investigated how many clinics offering chiropractic in the Canadian province of Alberta promote a theory of subluxation, which health ailments or improvements were linked to subluxation, and whether the subluxation discourse was used to promote chiropractic for particular demographics. Methods: Using the search engine on the Canadian Chiropractic Associations’ website, we made a list of all clinics in Alberta. We then used Google searches to obtain a URL for each clinic with a website, totalling 324 URLs for 369 clinics. We then searched on each website for “subluxation” and performed content analysis on the related content. Results: One hundred twenty-one clinics’ websites (33%) presented a theory of vertebral subluxation. The health ailments and improvements discussed in relation to subluxation were wide-ranging. An observed trend was the marketing of chiropractic for children, which was observed on 29 clinic websites (8%). Conclusions: Based on the controversy surrounding vertebral subluxation, the substantial number of clinic websites aligning their practice with vertebral subluxation should cause concern for regulatory bodies.

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Published

2019-11-13

How to Cite

Marcon, A. R., Murdoch, B., & Caulfield, T. (2019). The “subluxation” issue: an analysis of chiropractic clinic websites. Archives of Physiotherapy, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-019-0064-5

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Research Article

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