New Study from Sherman College Examines Reliability of Chiropractic Leg Checks in Detecting Subluxation
Originally published: 2025-03-26
ATLANTA, Georgia – 2025
A new study conducted by researchers at Sherman College of Chiropractic and published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research highlights the importance of reliable chiropractic leg check procedures for identifying spinal misalignments, known as subluxations. The study, led by Dr. Daniel Becker, DC, MEd, Dr. Christine Theodossis, DC, Dr. Mitzi Schwartzbauer, DC, and Dr. Alan Brewster, DC, compared two different chiropractic leg check methods—General and EPIC—to evaluate their consistency and effectiveness in detecting nervous system dysfunction.
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Leg checks are a fundamental part of chiropractic assessments, helping practitioners determine whether a patient is subluxated and in need of care. Ensuring these procedures are reliable is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This study examined how well the two protocols detected subluxations and whether their findings correlated with a person's ability to accurately sense their head position, which is an important indicator of balance and nervous system function.
The research involved 42 chiropractic students who underwent leg length evaluations using both protocols over three different days. On the final day, they also completed a head repositioning test to measure proprioception, which reflects how well their nervous system controls movement and balance. The results showed that individuals identified as “in pattern” under the EPIC protocol performed significantly worse on the proprioception test, suggesting that this method may be more effective at detecting nervous system imbalances associated with subluxation.
Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher, and Editor of the journal that published the study emphasized the importance of these findings:
“For chiropractors, having reliable methods to determine whether a patient is subluxated is essential for providing effective care. This research suggests that the EPIC protocol may offer a more precise way to assess spinal misalignments and their impact on nervous system function.”
The authors of the study stress the need for further research to refine chiropractic assessment techniques and improve the accuracy of subluxation detection. This study underscores Sherman College of Chiropractic’s commitment to advancing chiropractic research and education.
For more information, visit Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research.
Matthew McCoy, DC, MPH
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research
Website: [www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com]
Email: drmatthewmccoy@gmail.com
Phone: 404.247.2550
