The progressive making of a foremost chiropractic researcher: Fred Illi from Geneva

Until after the workshop on the research status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy at the National Institute of Neurological and Communicating Disorders and Strokes (NINCDS) in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1975, research had been a very elusive yet critical part of chiropractic evolution. In the past, chiropractic education emphasized basic sciences for legitimacy. To increase their competitive edge, chiropractors all too frequently looked to medical research rather than conducting research of their own. A few exceptionally gifted individuals and agencies within the profession developed new paradigms, improved modalities, and clinical mastery. Very little descriptive information has been made available to assess either these individuals or their achievements. With more than half the profession having less than 10 yr of practice, it becomes necessary to kindle a reappraisal of what once was in the particular area of chiropractic research. The case of Fred Illi has been chosen to illustrate the inherent difficulties that faced anyone bold enough to try and coherent enough to be successful.