Digestion from a Chiropractic Perspective

Recorded On: 01/24/2026

An estimated 60-70 million Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life. This session examines why digestion should be considered in the chiropractic office due to its impact on soft tissue integrity. A focus on poor protein absorption, zinc depletion and hypochlorhydria, within the framework of three major factors impacting digestive health, will be presented. 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.

Learning Objectives:

Objective 1: Identify the importance of addressing gut health to maximize musculoskeletal integrity.

Objective 2: Analyze patient presentation to determine how gut health may be impacting patient management.

Objective 3: Differentiate appropriate nutrients to support gut health.

Objective 4: Develop a clinical thought process to organize action steps that reduce loss of muscle mass and function while improving strength and stability.

Hourly Breakdown:

• Introduction (5 minutes)

• Introductory story

o Review of learning objectives Main Body Content (40 minutes)

• Summary & Conclusion (5 minutes) Three ways to take action & reduce loss of muscle mass in our patient population.

This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.

This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

View a list of accepted and approved states.

PACE ID: IP124262

Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP

Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport. She created the first interdisciplinary health center in her community before returning to academia, where she currently serves as a faculty clinician and assistant professor at a chiropractic college. As a former elementary teacher, she enjoys continuing to teach by mentoring student interns and providing evidence-informed care to a diverse patient population in an academic setting. Her clinical excellence extends to her recent work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she played a role in a nationally recognized, multi-institutional study on chiropractic therapy for chronic low back pain in veterans providing chiropractic and acupuncture care at two VA locations. 

In addition to her clinical and academic accomplishments, Dr. Johnson is a passionate advocate for community health education and military family wellness. With a grandfather that served in WWII, she recognized the unique needs associated with military service and developed a program that has provided more than $6 million in complimentary chiropractic clinical care for active-duty service members, veterans, and their dependents within a chiropractic college system. As a result of this program, she chose to serve as president for the Rock Island Arsenal Association of the United States Army Chapter for two terms and was nominated in 2019 to become an Army reserve ambassador. Appointed by the chief of the Army Reserve, ambassadors hold a Department of Army Protocol Precedence as a major general (2-star) equivalent and work to develop awareness and advocacy for the reserves in this key outreach and engagement program. She is serving in her second three-year term as one of 11 women in the nation to hold this position, and the first chiropractor.  