Physical therapists, chiropractors square off over bill Published: 2009-04-06 12:10:34Author: Chantal Anderson, Seattle Times, January 22, 2009
The campus is heating up today with supporters and opponents Senate Bill 5230descending on the Capitol. The bill sponsored by Sen. Fairely, D-Lake
Forest Park, would allow physical therapists in Washington to perform
spinal manipulation, which chiropractors currently perform.
Members of the Washington State Chiropractor's Association and the Physical Therapy Association of Washington are visiting legislators today to lobby about the bill.
Physical Therapy Association of Washington says:
- Washington is one of only two states (Arkansas is
the other state) in the nation that prohibits physical therapists from
performing this procedure.
- All three physical therapy
schools in WA (University of Washington, Eastern Washington University
and Puget Sound University) say they teach spinal manipulation.
- Medical
research shows spinal manipulation with patients with a certain level
of back and neck pain can be a beneficial and cost-effective treatment
for patients with a certain level of back and neck pain.
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