A student stands over a patient, needle poised. They have a “perfect” prescription: a textbook combination of points harvested from a lecture slide on chronic lower back pain. But as the needle meets the skin, the student hesitates - the symptom of a quiet habit that has taken hold of our profession. We routinely say we “prescribe” points. It sounds efficient. It echoes the authority of biomedical culture and fits neatly into the insurance field. But vocabulary is never neutral; repeated long enough, it dictates behavior.
Jeffrey Tucker, DC, DACRB
Dr. Jeffrey Tucker, a graduate of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (now Southern California University of Health Sciences) practices in West Los Angeles. He utilizes various methods in his practice to promote lasting health and wellness, and lectures worldwide on sports- and rehabilitation-related topics. You can sign up for his newsletter at DrJeffreyTucker.com.