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Volume 13
J Chiropr Humanit 2006; 13
Table of Contents
Contemplation of Thinking
and Learning in Chiropractic
Claire Johnson, MSEd, DC
Applications of the Mind Map
Learning Technique in Chiropractic Education: A Pilot Study and Literature
Review
Anthony V. D’Antoni, DC, MS, Genevieve Pinto Zipp, PT, EdD
Objective: To present a review of the
literature and survey results of student satisfaction after using the mind map
learning technique.
Methods: Fourteen third-year physical therapy students enrolled in a doctoral
neurorehabilitation course were required to create a mind map based upon the
lecture presentation and assigned reading for 6 diagnoses. The students were
asked to complete a post-course survey to assess their perceptions of the
usefulness of the mind map learning technique in improving organization and
integration of course material.
Results: Although the subject pool was limited to 14 students, 10 out of 14
agreed that the mind map learning technique enabled them to better
organize/integrate material presented in the course, while only 2 disagreed. The
final 2 students responded neutrally when asked if the mind map learning
technique assisted them in organizing/integrating course material. However,
these 2 students did agree the technique enabled them to recognize areas in
which further study was necessary for them to adequately master the course
material.
Conclusion: While the data obtained from this limited educational experience
offers some support for the use of the mind map learning technique in promoting
course material integration and learning in physical therapy education, further
work is needed to explore its usefulness in chiropractic education.
A Treatise on Fundamental
Principles of the Philosophy of Chiropractic and Related Topics in the Life
Sciences
Michael T. Clusserath, DC
Objective: To review literature from
the biological sciences and study its application to the philosophy of
chiropractic.
Discussion: Fundamental principles of the philosophy of chiropractic may gain
wider acceptance within the scientific community with a correlation of the
philosophy to literature in biology. In particular, literature that articulates
the complexity of living systems and the function of the nervous system as the
primary organizing system of the body would seem to facilitate this acceptance.
Stephenson elucidated the fundamental purpose of the nervous system as the
matter that organizes and coordinates all the functional parts of the body. He
did this with the level of understanding of biology of that time period. He
explained the connection by describing the 5 signs of life: adaptation,
assimilation, elimination, growth and reproduction. He described a normal
complete cycle of adaptation with efferent and afferent paths from the brain to
the body.
Conclusion: Recent articles in the biological and life sciences support, and
provide examples of, the correlation between the overall organization of the
body and the role of the nervous system.
“Iron Sharpens Iron”
Experiential Learning Strategies in Chiropractic Education
William E. Morgan, DC and Clare P. Morgan, DC
Objectives: To discuss the imbalance
of classroom and experiential education in chiropractic education and to uncover
ways to enhance chiropractic education through increasing empirical learning.
Discussion: Experiential learning completes the task begun in the classroom.
However, most chiropractic colleges have allowed the didactic portion of their
curriculum to outpace the clinical/empirical portion of a student’s education.
This has the potential to leave students with plenty of factual knowledge, but
with limited experience in the practical application of this knowledge.
Conclusion: Clearly a more diverse clinical experience is needed, as well as
more interactive learning processes to round out a chiropractor’s education.
This can be accomplished by expanding the chiropractic clinical experience to
include rotations in multidisciplinary healthcare facilities. Maximizing the
exposure of chiropractic students to patients of varying backgrounds, ages, and
states of health will broaden and deepen the chiropractor’s application of
knowledge.
What Do Symptoms Mean to The
Chiropractor?
Mark A. Amos, DC
Objectives: To clarify misconceptions
surrounding the writings of DD Palmer, BJ Palmer, and Ralph Stephenson
concerning patient’s symptoms and to describe the importance of understanding
the patient's presentation in chiropractic care. Discussion: The founders of the
chiropractic wrote extensively about the need to understand the patient's
symptomatic presentation. From this information the chiropractor understands the
patient has lost the ability to properly adapt to the internal and external
environment. The philosophical basis of chiropractic is that the body is self-
regulating and self-maintaining, directed by a vitalistic force called Innate
Intelligence. Lack of ability to adapt to the internal and external environment
results in dysfunction. Therefore, if a person demonstrates physical signs and
symptoms, it is due to lack of ability of Innate Intelligence to maintain the
body in health. The founders of the profession believed that a patient's
symptomology is an important indicator of the need for chiropractic care, though
not the focus of that care.
Conclusion: To function in the present day health care world, it is essential
for the doctor of chiropractic to understand the status of his patient’s health,
how it relates to the care he renders, and just what care he is rendering. The
chiropractic model of health acknowledges the importance of understanding a
patient’s symptoms. What makes chiropractic unique is the meaning ascribed to
the patient's symptomology, essentially, that the patient has lost the ability
to self regulate body physiology.
Chiropractic, Contemporary
Culture, and Patient Education
Cynthia J. Lund, CT, ALCP
Objective: This paper suggests that,
because of the baby boomers’ different perspective on health, chiropractors look
at how patient education programs acknowledge and accommodate the differences
and the demands of this generation.
Discussion: Looking at this requires setting aside differences in opinion about
why people should come to the chiropractor, and focusing on what experts in
marketing, business, and culture trends are writing about; establishing
relevant, thoughtful, meaningful connections with patients that strengthen
meaning and deepen the chiropractic experience.
Conclusion: As a profession, we may not have an agreed-upon identity or a large
marketing budget, but, as individual chiropractors and educators, we have the
strength of our intentions and the ability to review, revise, create and change
quickly. We can learn about contemporary culture, anticipate the future, hear
what our patients are saying and develop more meaningful ways to engage them.
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