0 Why Chiropractors Should Attend UCI's Annual Conference on Nutrition and Supplements
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Dynamic Chiropractic – February 12, 2008, Vol. 26, Issue 04

Why Chiropractors Should Attend UCI's Annual Conference on Nutrition and Supplements

By Raheleh Khorsan, MA

Why should chiropractors attend a nutrition and supplement conference, such as the upcoming "Annual Conference on Nutrition & Supplements: An Evidence-Based Approach," at the University of California, Irvine, Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine?

Well, don't you treat musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal conditions through procedures such as manipulation, massage, exercise and nutrition? The evidence suggests you do.1

Studies show that chiropractors would like greater involvement in patient-maintenance care including exercise and dietary recommendations, advice about nutritional supplements information, and offer health information about smoking and alcohol abuse.2 Brent H.

Walker and colleagues' survey on the provision of nutrition counseling and sources of nutrition information among practicing chiropractors in the United States found that nearly 90 percent of those surveyed provided nutrition counseling to their patients, even though the majority believed they were inadequately trained in nutrition. One-on-one dietary instruction was the most common method of providing nutrition counseling, and supplement use was the most common health-related situation/condition for which nutrition counseling was used. About 65 percent of chiropractors in the survey anticipated increased collaborations between registered dietitians and chiropractors.3

An earlier survey reported that 60 percent of the respondents indicated they provided nutrition information to their patients on a routine basis, and 38 percent provided information on request only. The major forms of nutrition information dissemination were counseling (87 percent) and written materials (74 percent).4 There is an apparent need for further research and education on nutrition and supplement counseling, particularly in areas most relevant to a chiropractic care practice.

Co-sponsored by the Samueli Institute, this conference, scheduled for March 1-2, 2008, will once again assemble an outstanding array of internationally-known scientific researchers and clinicians, whose work focuses on the interface between nutrition and good health. Who should consider attending the conference? Those interested in the most current and up-to-date information relating to the incorporation of nutrition into their clinical practice, those who enjoy learning about the latest research findings on nutrition, diet and supplements as a therapeutic intervention, and those who benefit from new knowledge on nutritional recommendations for management of specific conditions.

Attendees include a wide variety of people (chiropractors, physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, naturopaths, acupuncturists, etc.) and other professionals who make nutritional recommendations as part of their clinical practice. You do not need to be a researcher or educator to attend.

References

  1. Dagenais S, Haldeman S. Chiropractic. Prim Care, 2002 Jun;29(2):419-37.
  2. Jamison J. Health information and promotion in chiropractic clinics. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 2002 May;25(4):240-5.
  3. Walker BH, Mattfeldt-Beman MK, Tomazic TJ, Sawicki MA. Provision of nutrition counseling, referrals to registered dietitians, and sources of nutrition information among practicing chiropractors in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc, 2000 Aug;100(8):928-33.
  4. Newman CF, Downes NJ, Tseng RY, McProud LM, Newman LK. Nutrition-related backgrounds and counseling practices of doctors of chiropractic. J Am Diet Assoc, 1989 Jul;89(7):939-43.
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