Chiropractors from around the world gathered in Vilamoura, Portugal to celebrate "The Past, Present and Future of Chiropractic" at the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) 9th Biennial Congress, held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary convention of the European Chiropractors' Union (ECU).
WFC Assembly/Convention
The WFC Assembly gave delegates representing member national associations in 45 countries the opportunity to report on issues affecting the profession in their respective countries, including recent/current successes (e.g., new university-based chiropractic schools in Spain and Switzerland; new legislation to extend chiropractic recognition and funding in Norway and Thailand) and new challenges (e.g., physical therapists in Brazil seeking recognition of chiropractic as a PT specialty; new threats of prosecution for chiropractors in Taiwan).
The main convention featured workshops from prominent technique lecturers, along with presentations from a variety of high-profile leaders in chiropractic and alternative health care - such as Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, David Cassidy, DC, PhD, and other members of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain, whose long-awaited report on the safety and effectiveness of all treatments for neck pain and associated disorders will be published in Spine and the European Spine Journal in November. Other highlights from the assembly/convention included the following:
- Drs. Haldeman, Gerard Clum, David Byfield and Louis Sportelli offered keynote lectures on the past, present and likely future of chiropractic research, philosophy, education and practice trends, respectively.
- Portugal's leading neurosurgeon, Professor Joao Lobo Anunes from the University of Lisbon, discussed the future of health care in Europe and detailed his positive clinical experiences with the growing chiropractic profession in Portugal.
- John Sweaney, DC, a past president of the WFC, presented the inaugural John A. Sweaney Lecture, which honors his contributions to chiropractic, particularly in Australia and Japan.
- Bruce Lipton, PhD, cell biologist and the author of The Biology of Belief, discussed "A New Biology: Lessons From Cell Biology About Our Environment and the Future of Health, Wellness and the Chiropractic Profession."
- Sister Brigette Yengo, DC, MD, of the Congo, spoke of her experiences with the chiropractic profession and its founders. Sister Yengo founded and runs an orphanage in the Congo and maintains a chiropractic practice. During the meeting, more than $10,000 was raised for her orphanage.
- Francis Obikwelu, European 2006 Male Athlete of the Year and 100- meters record-holder, emphasized the importance of chiropractic care in enhancing performance and preventing injury.
Awards
WFC Honor Award: Dr. Louis Sportelli, a past WFC president and current president of NCMIC Group, was honored for his outstanding lifetime contribution to the international growth of the chiropractic profession. Dr. Anthony Metcalfe received the WFC Past-President's Award for his significant past and continuing international leadership.
Scott Haldeman Award: First prize in the original research competition went to a Dutch research team led by Sidney Rubenstein, DC, MSc, for their paper, "Predictors of Adverse Reactions Following Chiropractic Care for Patients With Neck Pain." Second prize went to Silvano Mior and Audrey Laporte of Canada for "Economic and Resource Status of the Chiropractic Profession in Ontario, Canada: A Threat or an Opportunity?" Heidi Haarik Taylor and Bernadette Murphy (New Zealand) took third prize for "Altered Sensorimotor Integration With Cervical Spine Manipulation."
Private Practice Award: Wayne Hoskins, Henry Pollard and Rod Bonello won this award for their work, "The Effect of Sports Chiropractic on the Prevention of Athletic Injuries in Elite Athletes: A Rand-omized Controlled Trial."
ECU 75th Anniversary Celebration
The European Chiropractors Union (ECU) celebrated its 75th anniversary with the launch of Chiropractic in Europe: An Illustrated History. The book, which summarizes the history of the chiropractic profession in 19 European countries, was commissioned by the ECU and published in memory of Dr. Kyrre Myhrvold, who championed chiropractic in Norway and worldwide, while stressing the importance of history. Other anniversary events included a dinner honoring past ECU presidents, as well as the presentation and cutting of a massive birthday cake in honor of president Philippe Druart, DC.
AHC Conference
The Association for the History of Chiropractic (AHC) held its first-ever European conference, focusing on European chiropractic history. All WFC Congress attendees received the summer 2007 issue of the AHC journal Chiropractic History, featuring papers from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Wales and the United Kingdom. Ann-Liss Taarup of Denmark received the Lee-Homewood Award for her outstanding contributions to chiropractic history.
Sports Chiropractic Forum
More than 50 sports chiropractic leaders representing 22 countries attended a chiropractic sports forum organized by the WFC and FICS, and sponsored by Parker College of Chiropractic. Regarded as the most representative international gathering of sports chiropractic leadership ever, the forum featured clinical and research presentations, along with an emphasis on better coordinating sports chiropractic on an international level.
For additional details on the 9th WFC Congress and information regarding the 10th Congress, currently scheduled to be held in Montreal in May 2009, visit www.wfc.org.
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