1/17/03

Unprecedented Case: Arkansas Chiropractic Board Fines PT 


LITTLE ROCK, AR (Chiro Wire) Until recently, Arkansas had never had 
a case in which a physical therapist appeared before the state 
chiropractic board in a disciplinary hearing.

But last month Michael Teston, a physical therapist who allegedly 
performed „spinal manipulation¾ on a patient and a private 
investigator, incurred $10,000 in fines ordered by the Arkansas 
State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, The Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette reports. One of Teston¼s patients claims Teston „popped¾ 
her back, and that sound usually indicates spinal manipulation, the 
board executive director explained. Under state law, physical 
therapists can only manipulate joints and not the spine, so they can 
perform „spinal mobilization¾ but not „spinal manipulation.¾ 

The state Board of Physical Therapy, however, backs Teston. The PT 
board¼s chairman states that Teston¼s case will have „some huge 
ramifications,¾ such as pressuring therapists to treat patients more 
conservatively, the Democrat-Gazette reports. 

Teston plans to appeal the chiropractic board¼s order in circuit 
court.