WHEREAS, Physical activity and musculoskeletal health are among the most powerful contributors to long-term health and longevity, enhancing cardiovascular and metabolic function while enabling Californians to move, work, and live independently as they age; and

WHEREAS, Musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain, are the leading cause of disability worldwide and are associated with persistent pain, limited or impaired mobility, depression, social isolation, difficulty performing daily activities such as bathing or dressing, and work absenteeism; and

WHEREAS, Doctors of chiropractic are licensed practitioners and experts in musculoskeletal health who provide an evidence-based, patient-centered, drug-free approach to care that goes beyond symptom management to address joint dysfunction and pain at its source; and

WHEREAS, Chiropractors provide safe and effective care to millions of patients each year for back pain, neck pain, joint pain, tension headaches, and other common musculoskeletal conditions, along with guidance on nutrition, injury prevention, ergonomics, and lifestyle modifications that support optimal health and wellness; and

WHEREAS, Chiropractic adjustments manipulate an individual’s joints to reduce pain, correct alignment, and improve bodily function, and can provide long-term relief for patients experiencing lower back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, and headaches; and

WHEREAS, While opioids have historically been prescribed to treat musculoskeletal conditions, long-term use of prescription opioids is associated with serious health risks, including addiction and death caused by overdose, and chiropractic care offers patients a safe, effective treatment alternative to habit-forming pain medications; and

WHEREAS, A growing body of research demonstrates that receiving chiropractic care first for common musculoskeletal conditions may reduce or eliminate the need for riskier and more invasive interventions; and

WHEREAS, According to National Health Interview Survey data, a majority of patients who sought chiropractic care reported that the treatment was effective, and those patients were less likely to seek prescription or over-the-counter medications, surgery, or physical therapy; and

WHEREAS, The chiropractic profession in California is subject to rigorous oversight by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which was created on December 21, 1922, pursuant to a voter-approved initiative measure, and which protects Californians from licensed and unlicensed individuals who engage in the fraudulent, negligent, or incompetent practice of chiropractic; and

WHEREAS, The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the Governor, composed of five licensed doctors of chiropractic and two members of the public serving four-year terms, and oversees approximately 12,000 licensees, 100 providers of continuing education, and 20 chiropractic programs across the United States and Canada; and

WHEREAS, The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ regulatory functions, including licensing, continuing education, and enforcement, are funded exclusively through fees paid by the profession, at no cost to the State General Fund, with approximately 70 percent of the board’s operating budget dedicated to enforcement activities that protect California consumers; and

WHEREAS, By relieving pain and restoring joint function, chiropractic care helps Californians resume their daily lives, return to work, and participate fully in the activities that contribute to the culture and economic vitality of the State of California; and

WHEREAS, It is in the public interest of the State of California to recognize and promote awareness of chiropractic care as a safe, effective, and drug-free treatment option for musculoskeletal conditions; now, therefore, be it