Question
Dr. Gillman,

I happened upon this site while searching for information about Maximized Living.  I am a student at Palmer Chiropractic, and while the group is technically banned on campus, they are thriving and manage to recruit a fair population to their ranks. The questions I have stem from an argument I got into with one of their members about spinal curvature.

Summarized, the other student claimed that the 'perfect' curvature is 43 degrees, and that the spine must be adjusted to this number regardless of neural interference. She mentioned that research has been done to substantiate the claim, and miracle cases of healing after curves were restored, yet failed to cite her sources. What does the research say about the relationship between general health, and a 'perfect' curve?

My second question is regarding Maximized Living in general. On the surface, the organization seems fairly legitimate in its promotion of health. However, I have also heard horror stories about their use of scare tactics to pressure patients into pre-paying for thousands of dollars of chiropractic care and supplements, as well as requiring a substantial portion of the doctor's income upon setting up a practice.  What's the deal with these guys?

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer these questions, it is greatly appreciated!

Answer
Andrew,

Your gut feeling on Maximized Living is genuine.   There is good reason why they are banned on campus.   Maximized Living (ML) does not have any research.   You can go to pubmed.com yourself and try searching.   You can also tap the professors and PhD's who study these topics to see if they have any research articles on hand.    What you will learn is that there is no evidence that the number of degrees of cervical spine lordosis correlates with health.   While we all can appreciate that a severely kyphotic C-spine is likely not an ideal situation, there is no good evidence that adjusting the neck, once or a million times, will change the curve to some ideal 43 degrees.    If there are so many successful cases their clinics, then they should publish something credible, and not just blab pseudoscience.    I have posted several times on this topic of neck curvature and the quack schemes that some of our colleagues are pulling on the public.  Just search some of my Q/A's on this topic.    Sadly, since it has been so difficult for DC's to obtain fair reimbursement from the insurance industry, and since DC's are in an unfair playing field with PT's (everyone has some PT coverage and they are part of the medical referral loop, while DC's are not), it fosters the growth of organizations like Maximized Living.    ML has a lot of money and thus they have the power to get into the heads of young, impressionable students and doctors.   That's what all cult-like organizations do.   Trust me, I've been through stuff like this (and I would share stories with you privately), and what I want to convey to you right now is that your job is to become a doctor of chiropractic - DOCTOR - not a dogmatic charlatan looking to make a buck with flimsy methods and ideas.   So the next time a ML student makes a claim and states they have research to prove it, make them pony up right on the spot and put $100 on the bet.    It's a shame that Palmer doesn't just bring them on campus, on stage and camera, and force them to prove themselves in front of the professors, scientists, students, and media.  

'Hope this was helpful.

Dr. G'