regulatory hearings in Kansas, and guidance on implementation issues raised by veterans’ health services. These actions show how the Commission moves beyond publication to advocacy — an essential bridge when evidence must inform real-world resource allocation and regulation.
Guarding the narrative: Letters, commentaries, and scientific critique
Good science polices itself. The Commission used letter submissions, commentaries, and rebuttals to identify methodological flaws in literature that could harm patients or misrepresent chiropractic care.
Examples from the quarter include:
• A published letter in Neurological Sciences highlighting missing information and selective reporting related to vertebral artery dissection literature.
• An accepted commentary in Systematic Reviews pointing out critical limitations in a meta-analysis about spinal manipulation and migraine.
• Several letters and opinions in revision addressing flawed systematic reviews and narrative analyses.
Such critiques are essential. When low-quality or biased studies are left unchallenged, they can be amplified by media and policymakers, leading to restrictive policies that do not reflect the real balance of evidence. By intervening — with careful methodological argumentation and evidence synthesis — the Commission protects the profession and, more importantly, patients’ access to conservative care options.
Recognition: Awards and capacity building
The quarter’s awards were not just prizes — they signal where the field is investing its future. Recipients included new public health degrees, NCMIC research awards, and investigator recognitions that strengthen the profession’s research capacity. These honors advance careers and help institutions secure funding and collaborations. The Commission’s continued success depends on a pipeline of motivated investigators who can bridge clinical practice and methodologically rigorous research.
For Washington practitioners, this underscores an invitation: mentor, encourage, and, when possible, fund clinician-researcher pathways. We benefit directly when our communities produce scholarship that improves clinical decision-making and policy outcomes.
Practical takeaways for Washington chiropractors
Research must change what chiropractors do at the clinic level. Here are tangible actions WSCA members can take now, informed by the quarter’s report:
1. Engage with the Evidence Center. As a WSCA member, you get free access—you just have to register. Curated evidence saves time and strengthens your case when communicating with payers or referral partners.
2. Update your informed consent and documentation. Use recently published guidance and letters to craft balanced informed consent language that reflects current evidence on safety and benefit.
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