July 22, 1998
Dr. Dean Edell
366 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3122
Dear Dr. Edell:
As president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), I listened with interest to your recent broadcast during which a caller asked about chiropractic care for her child.

It is unfortunate that your experience with chiropractic has been a negative one. The ACA is the largest chiropractic association in the country, representing responsible, ethical and mainstream doctors of chiropractic. Today's doctors of chiropractic are highly educated care givers and are extensively trained in diagnosing health care problems, treating the problems when they are within their scope of practice and referring patients to other health care providers when appropriate.

Contrary to your suggestion, the vast majority of chiropractors would not inappropriately diagnose children with scoliosis for the sake of lining their pockets. It is unfortunate that a few disreputable doctors have marred your image of the chiropractic profession as a whole - a profession that is increasingly gaining respect and recognition from researchers, medical doctors and consumers alike.

In addition, your contention that doctors of chiropractic should never treat children deserves a response. Such a suggestion is highly inappropriate. When one considers all the trauma a child's spine goes through growing up, with the falls, bumps and jars from such things as learning to walk, then run, then ride a bicycle, it is easy to see how their spines can be injured. Children have back pain just as adults do. When the source of that pain comes from spinal joint dysfunction, it is appropriate for the child to see a doctor of chiropractic. Far too many children have their pain treated with medication that may have side effects and may not necessarily correct the underlying source of their problem.

Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to treat children and utilize a gentler type of treatment that is appropriate to a child's size, needs and diagnosis. Children usually respond quickly to light adjustments and other chiropractic treatments and will feel little or no discomfort. In addition, chiropractors might also prescribe exercises designed to help children develop strong muscles, along with instruction in good nutrition, posture and sleeping habits.

For your information, I have included a copy of a recent report on chiropractic that was published by the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. This report will give you a better understanding of the significant strides the chiropractic profession has made in recent years and the latest research demonstrating chiropractic's effectiveness for a variety of conditions.

Please call the ACA toll-free anytime at (800) 986-4636, for more information, or visit the ACA's website at http://www.amerchiro.org.

Sincerely,
Michael Pedigo, D.C.
President
American Chiropractic Association