Chiropractic Care for Returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Our offices have answered the call to participate in a new initiative aimed at supporting America’s newest returning veterans with immediate access to chiropractic services, in addition to the limited programs officially available through the US Department of Defense. Out of a desire to serve and to fill in a vitally important health care gap, We join with other ICA doctors around the nation to extend an offer of care for one full year for any US military veteran returning from overseas deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq, at no charge. The concept was developed by ICA’s Southern Regional Director Dr. R.J. Kelly, who had initiated such a program in his own personal practice, with very positive results among veterans.

“The greatest gift we have to give is the correction of the vertebral subluxation to

restore the flow of Innate in another,” said Dr. Kelly. “My greatest joy is to be

allowed to do that for the people I meet. I am pleased that so many of my ICA

colleagues share my vision and my understanding of this current need, and if you

share my joy, I call on you to add your name to the roster of DCs committed to

delivering this gift to a special group of our fellow citizens – our men and women

in the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Tens of thousands of US military personnel are being rotated back to the US,

many to civilian life, and others to stateside deployment. All have been subjected

to exceptional strain, with a new pattern of injury and trauma. Regrettably, the

care those returning veterans have been receiving through official channels has

not always been adequate. In some instances, it has been the subject of

scathing criticism. Whatever the situation for returning veterans, they need help

and support from the community, including the chiropractic community. The

impact of war on the human body and soul has been given much serious

consideration over the years by chiropractic leaders. We believe that through

the power of a chiropractic adjustment, chiropractic offers a unique asset, as

returning veterans strive to recover and restore their lives physically, mentally,

emotionally and spiritually.

“Right now there are literally thousands in our country that are offering an even

greater gift... their lives. Our military, our returning veterans, whether visibly

wounded or free of outward symptoms, are coming home changed, and need our

help as chiropractors,” said Dr. Kelly.

ICA has been in contact with various veterans’ organizations and service groups

and is developing a protocol for this new program, as well as developing lines of

communication to make sure that as many veterans as possible know that this

initiative is up and running, and how to find a participating doctor of chiropractic

in their area. “We want to help volunteer doctors reach out to the returning

veteran population in a spirit of service in the most clinically sound, ethically

based and timely manner possible,” said ICA Executive Director Robert N.

Pohtos. To find other participating doctors of chiropractic visit the ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org.

If you know of a Family or Returning Veteran please forward this information on to them.