Sherman College Leads the Way in Chiropractic Assessment Research
Originally published: 2025-04-01
For decades, chiropractors have relied on various assessment tools to determine whether a patient is subluxated. Yet, how reliable are these methods? How valid are the tests we use daily in practice? While many within the profession assume these procedures are well-established, few have actually taken the steps to scientifically evaluate their effectiveness—except for the team at Sherman College of Chiropractic.
At a time when no other chiropractic institution or research organization is conducting this kind of critical analysis, Sherman College is leading the charge in assessing the reliability and validity of the tools used to detect vertebral subluxation. Their latest study, published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, is part of a broader initiative to determine which assessment methods truly stand up to scrutiny.
CLICK HERE to review the study
A Research Team Committed to Advancing Chiropractic Science
The study was conducted by Dr. Daniel Becker, DC, MEd, Dr. Christine Theodossis, DC, Dr. Mitzi Schwartzbauer, DC, and Dr. Alan Brewster, DC, all dedicated faculty members at Sherman College. Their work is part of an ongoing effort to provide chiropractors with research-backed, dependable assessment tools that help ensure subluxations are accurately identified and corrected.
Unlike other institutions that have largely ignored the need to validate chiropractic’s foundational assessment methods, Sherman College has made it a priority to put these measures to the test—ensuring that chiropractors are using reliable, science-based approaches in practice.
Why This Research Matters
This latest study compared two different leg check protocols—General and EPIC—to evaluate how effectively they detect spinal misalignments and related nervous system dysfunction. The results suggested that the EPIC protocol may be more precise in identifying subluxations linked to nervous system interference.
However, this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The Sherman research team is committed to critically evaluating all aspects of subluxation assessment, including:
● Leg length inequality checks – Are they a reliable indicator of subluxation?
● Neurofunctional testing – How well do these tests correlate with actual nervous system interference?
● Instrumentation and analysis methods – Are the tools chiropractors rely on providing consistent and valid results?
No Other Institution Is Doing This Work
While chiropractic research has largely focused on pain and symptom management, Sherman College remains one of the only institutions actively investigating subluxation assessment tools. This work is essential for the future of chiropractic—ensuring that our methods are not only effective but scientifically sound.
This type of research does more than just validate chiropractic procedures—it strengthens the profession as a whole. By ensuring our assessment tools are measurable, repeatable, and scientifically supported, Sherman College is helping chiropractors defend the necessity of subluxation-based care in an increasingly evidence-based healthcare landscape.
The Future of Chiropractic Research Starts Here
Sherman College is setting the gold standard for chiropractic research into subluxation assessment. Their commitment to scientific rigor and chiropractic principles ensures that future generations of chiropractors will have access to better, more reliable tools—ultimately improving patient outcomes and strengthening the foundation of chiropractic itself.
This is research that no other institution is doing—but it’s the research that every chiropractor needs. Stay tuned for more groundbreaking studies from Sherman College of Chiropractic as they continue to lead the way in validating and refining the tools of our profession.
Matthew McCoy, DC, MPH
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research
Website: [www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com]
Email: drmatthewmccoy@gmail.com
Phone: 404.247.2550
