This past week in clinic, I continued to see new patients. At the NUHS clinic, we do health physicals for the students of St. Petersburg College. The students need physicals for the EMT, firefighter training, nursing, medical assistant, and study abroad programs. The students have the option to come to our clinic for free, and we also offer free chiropractic care to all the SPC students, faculty, staff, and their families.

When I am not seeing patients, I am trying to learn as much as I can in areas that interest me. I have started reading two books on physical rehabilitation and the kinetic chain. I also have been reading through the physician’s desk reference for dietary supplements and herbs.

The first textbook written on Whiplash was co-written by Arthur C. Croft, PhD, DC, MPH.

This past week I discovered a new book I would be reading by Arthur C. Croft, PhD, DC, MPH. Dr. Croft has his PhD in epidemiology as well as a DC. He wrote multiple textbooks on whiplash and TMJ problems. Dr. Croft also wrote the first textbook on whiplash injury and has written over 350 scientific papers.

Dr. Croft also teaches a program on ‘Whiplash Injury: Biomechanics and Traumatology,” consisting of 4 modules and a conference. This past weekend I drove to Orlando for the seminar and it was well worth the trip. Doctors came from all over the country for the seminar but I only had a short drive from Tampa Bay. It took me about an hour and a half with traffic.

I received the textbook for module two and took my own notes during the seminar. I spoke with doctors there who game from Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and Iowa. I felt extremely lucky to be so close one of the four locations in the nation where Dr. Croft teaches.

The seminar was fantastic! It hit on a lot of the points we learned in school such as the comprehensive history and evaluation. The review was helpful but the new information was even better. I learned about the mechanics of whiplash injury. I also learned about the neurological, vestibular, and mechanical symptoms associated with whiplash. One thing that I found fascinating was a condition called post-traumatic hypothyroidism. The whiplash can cause an injury to the thyroid gland leading to fatigue and exacerbation of other symptoms.

I am going to take the other modules and take the test for the advanced certification. Between seeing patients in clinic, I am going to read the whiplash book I received at the seminar. Each module has a corresponding textbook. These whiplash classes will keep me busy for the next year, but whiplash injuries are commonly treated by chiropractors. I am happy to have the opportunity to take these classes. We are lucky to be so close to Orlando because there are many chiropractic seminars in Orlando and it is only a short drive away.

If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected].