Rooted in Principle, Backed by Science: Why Sherman College is Leading the Way in Chiropractic Research
In today’s changing healthcare landscape, the most impactful ideas are those that uphold timeless truths while being supported by scientific research. At Sherman College of Chiropractic, students are immersed in a distinctive environment where chiropractic’s vitalistic philosophy and advanced research come together to create a deeply principled, evidence-based education.
Here, chiropractic is more than just a technique or profession. It is a calling built on a strong foundation—where science underpins philosophy, and philosophy gives meaning to the science.
Chiropractic: Rooted in the Immaterial, Revealed in the Material
One of the main differences between chiropractic and the modern medical model is how each approaches knowledge and healing.
Modern medicine typically starts with tangible material; what can be seen, touched, or measured. It relies on inductive reasoning: observing patterns, gathering data, and forming general conclusions from physical phenomena.
In contrast, chiropractic philosophy focuses on the immaterial: the organizing intelligence within the body. Using deductive reasoning, chiropractic understands that life expresses itself through coordinating intelligence, Innate Intelligence, and that interference with this (such as vertebral subluxation) hampers the body’s ability to function and heal.
From this principle, chiropractors infer the importance of locating, analyzing, and correcting subluxations to restore optimal nervous system function. This philosophy is not just an abstract idea; it is the foundation for a consistent, sound approach to care that guides both clinical practice and scientific research.
IRAPS: Where Philosophy and Research Come Together
The International Research and Philosophy Symposium (IRAPS) is one of Sherman’s most prominent examples of its dedication to principled chiropractic research. Held annually on Sherman’s campus, IRAPS offers a peer-reviewed platform where chiropractors, researchers, and students share findings that support and examine chiropractic’s core ideas—especially the vertebral subluxation.
At IRAPS 2025, research covered a wide range of topics: improvements in stress and sleep measures following chiropractic care, radiographic studies on spinal alignment, pediatric case studies, and critical evaluations of subluxation analysis methods. These are not just academic exercises. They represent an increasing body of evidence that supports the safety, effectiveness, and philosophical integrity of subluxation-centered care.
Students are encouraged to participate in IRAPS through poster and platform presentations, providing them with the chance to contribute meaningfully to the profession’s advancement even before they graduate.
Research at Sherman: Building a Bridge Between Philosophy and Evidence
Sherman’s Center for Scholarly Activity and Evidence-Informed Practice plays a crucial role in helping students and faculty develop research skills and apply them to chiropractic’s unique model of care.
Ongoing projects include research on:
– Nervous system function and proprioception
– The effects of specific chiropractic adjustments on posture, balance, and stress
– Radiographic techniques for subluxation analysis
– Chiropractic outcomes in pediatric and prenatal populations
– Curriculum effectiveness and clinical training results
These projects are intended to reinforce and validate chiropractic’s vitalistic foundation, not to shift it toward a mechanistic model. They demonstrate that chiropractic, when aligned with its principles, can meet the highest scientific standards.
Why This Matters for the Chiropractor of the Future
Choosing a chiropractic college is about more than just location; it’s about selecting your foundation—what you’ll rely on throughout your career.
At Sherman College, you will:
- Learn to think critically and apply both philosophy and evidence
- Gain confidence in your ability to explain and support the chiropractic model
- Engage in meaningful research that upholds chiropractic’s principles
- Enter the field ready not just to adjust, but to lead
Sherman provides both the heart and the tools to serve with integrity and clarity. You’ll understand not only how chiropractic works but also why it matters.
Be Part of the Next Generation of Thoughtful, Evidence-Informed Chiropractors
If you believe that true health comes from within, that the nervous system plays a key role in healing, and that the body is designed to thrive without interference, then Sherman College might be exactly where you belong. Click here to learn more about Sherman’s research, philosophy, and how you can join a profession that honors life, values truth, and is grounded in both principle and science.