Chiropractic neurology

Chiropractic neurology is a subspecialty of chiropractic medicine focusing on the very limited treatment of the nervous system using therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation and nutrition and without the use of drugs and surgery. The use of chiropractic neurology is considered by mainstream medical science to be questionable pseudoscience and treatments are currently not supported by evidence based practice.

Based on training described by a newly founded subspecialty in neurology, chiropractic neurologists often care for patients suffering complicated headaches, concussion, nerve root compression syndromes from spinal disc lesions, stenosis and chronic pain syndromes.

Board certifications and professional associations

Currently, the three credentialing boards of chiropractic neurology in the US are the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (ACNB), the International Board of Chiropractic Neurology (IBCN). and the International College of Chiropractic Neurology. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) only recognizes ACNB certifications under the authority of their subsidiary organization the International Board of Chiropractic Specialties. In addition to these credentialing agencies, the International College of Chiropractic Neurology (ICCN) exists as a professional association for chiropractic neurologists.

Mark Crislip expressed concern about the minimal amount of post-doctoral training required to be certified in chiropractic neurology (40 days of internet classes or 300 classroom hours) compared to the amount required for a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy to become a medical neurologist (3 years of residency and over 8,000 hours).

American Chiropractic Neurology Board

ACNB offers subspecialty certifications in electrodiagnosis, vestibular rehabilitation, and childhood developmental disorders, all considered to be fringe science by the majority of doctors. Most insurance policies that cover chiropractic care do not cover all of the practice areas considered by the ACNB to be within the scope of chiropractic neurology, such as childhood developmental disorders. For example, Aetna's medical clinical policy considers chiropractic manipulation experimental or unproven "when it is rendered for non-neuromusculoskeletal conditions (e.g., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy; and gastro-intestinal disorders, not an all inclusive list) because its effectiveness for these indications is unproven." The American Chiropractic Neurology Board is accredited by National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

International Board of Chiropractic Neurology

The IBCN was established in 1997 with the responsibility is to "examine candidates and confer diplomate status to those who successfully pass their diplomate examination." The board approves diplomate status to individuals who have earned a doctor of chiropractic or equivalent degree plus 300 continuing education units in chiropractic neurology from a CCE approved institution or equivalent and have passed a three-part examination (one practical and two written portions). There have been questions about the extremely short time that it takes to get a degree.

International College of Chiropractic Neurology

The ICCN was established in 2015 by chiropractic neurology diplomates of the various current and former credentialing boards.

Functional neurology

Functional neurology is an emerging branch of chiropractic neurology that employs investigational therapy to address dysfunction in the neuraxis that is postulated to be the root cause of the disease being treated by chiropractors. A Peer reviewed journal, Functional Neurology, publishes scholarly articles in the advances of neurosciences.

The Ohio Department of Health defines functional neurology as, "the field... that engages the internal and external environment of the individual in a structured and targeted approach to affect positive changes in the neuraxis and consequent physiology and behavior." Chiropractic neurology relies on neuroplasticity in order to use chiropractic body manipulations to rewire the brain to address injured or diseased brain structures. Specific treatments include joint adjustments, muscle therapies, physical exercises, balance and vestibular rehabilitation, light, sound, smell and touch stimulations, eye exercises, cognitive training, and nutritional and supplement recommendations.

Critics have pointed to the lack supporting evidence from independently published articles in peer-reviewed journals to back these claims. Functional Neurology is considered to be a pseudoscience by many medical and chiropractic doctors due to the lack of reliable evidence demonstrating its efficacy. According to physician Mark Crislip, of the small number of publications on the subject in the Pubmed database, none address the competency or efficacy of chiropractic neurologists in the diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries and there were no clinical trials to demonstrate its efficacy. He concluded that "there is no reason, based on known anatomy and physiology," to suspect that there would be a benefit to chiropractic neurology treatment, which he refers to as "pseudo-medicine."

Neurologist Steven Novella said that the claims made by chiropractic neurologist are not supported by scientific research. According to Novella, "Chiropractic neurology appears to me to be the very definition of pseudoscience."

Harriet Hall, a retired family physician, said that the only formal study on the topic was published in an obscure journal, did not demonstrate rigorous methodology, and all of its authors had a significant professional and financial stake in the conclusions reported by the study.