Millions of Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life. As a result, gut health and its impact on overall health is a hot topic. But can gut health also impact what doctors of chiropractic do? Julie L. Johnson, DC, CFMP, says yes. In her Engage 2026 education session, “Digestion from a Chiropractic
Perspective” (1 CE), Dr. Johnson will examine why digestion should be considered in the chiropractic office due to its impact on soft tissue integrity. Attendees will examine factors indicating that digestion may be impacting chiropractic results, learn about nutrients that support digestion and absorption, and gain the tools needed to take action to reduce loss of muscle mass and maximize health outcomes in patients seeking chiropractic care.
Read on for more from Dr. Johnson about her upcoming presentation, and register for Engage 2026 today so you can attend in person.
Q: How is the topic you are presenting at Engage 2026 relevant to today’s chiropractor?
With 60-70 million Americans currently reporting digestive issues annually, it is likely that a chiropractor will treat patients suffering from either short- or long-term gut issues. This not only
impacts the gut/brain axis, but immunity, as the gut is the largest immune organ. From a chiropractic perspective, a major issue is poor soft tissue integrity due to compromised nutrient absorption, particularly protein. This leads to a number of implications for chiropractors, from adjusting thrust force to technique choice and the ability of the patient to progress in care. Due to the complexity of gut health, I chose to take a practical approach to this presentation, providing action steps within a framework that focuses on the impact of protein absorption, zinc depletion and hypochlorhydria.
Q: What makes you an expert in this area?
As a practicing chiropractor of 25 years, I have seen the implications of poor digestion in patients firsthand. I also have certification in functional medicine.
Q: What first interested you in this topic?
I first became interested in functional medicine when I had a patient present after six months in practice, asking if I could help her get pregnant because she had heard that chiropractors helped people have babies. I had just attended a continuing education series on female hormone balancing using nutrition and contacted the instructor to help me through the case. The result was a pregnancy, which inspired me to pursue certification in functional medicine, once this was an option. I began using saliva, stool and blood testing in practice and never looked back.
Q: Can you provide one or two takeaways from your presentation that Engage 2026 attendees will not want to miss…and why.
I hope that my colleagues will understand that gut health is in our lane and that we have an opportunity to truly make a difference for our patients in this area, not only to improve their quality of life, but the outcomes of our treatment in the long-term.
In addition, attendees will be able to:
- Identify the importance of addressing gut health to maximize musculoskeletal integrity.
- Analyze patient presentations to determine how gut health may be impacting patient management.
- Differentiate appropriate nutrients to support gut health.
- Develop a clinical thought process to organize action steps that reduce loss of muscle mass and function while improving strength and stability.
Q: How many times have you attended or presented at ACA Engage in the past?
I have not had the opportunity to attend ACA Engage before. I am looking forward to attending for the first time. I am most looking forward to connecting/networking with chiropractic colleagues and learning from others that have content to share.
###
Don’t miss Engage 2026! Join with fellow ACA members Jan. 22–24 in Arlington, Va., at the Crystal Gateway Marriott to learn from top experts, sharpen your clinical and professional skills, and connect with your chiropractic community. ACA has applied for CE credits in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, in addition to offering CE in more than 30 PACE-accepted states. Get the details here: Engage 2026 Continuing Education. In addition, take advantage of early-bird rates by registering today for the conference.
