Chiropractic Pioneers In Africa
16th-17th January, 2025
Welcome to Addis Ababa 2025
Welcome from Dr Mufudzi Chihambakwe – President ACF
On behalf of the Board I’m proud to invite you to yet another African Chiropractic Federation Conference, this time in the beautiful city of Addis Ababa.
As 2025 marks a quarter of the first century passed already in this new millenium, we want to pause at that and look ahead as well. We want this conference to be a meeting of minds and exchanging of ideas. Most of us are “accidental leaders”; we find ourselves elected for an association post not because we wanted it or felt equipped to fill it, but because there simply is nobody else to do it. While helping people feel and function better in our busy daily practice lives, in our spare time we attempt to make strides in the realm of legislation, education and public awareness to increase our patients’ access to quality chiropractic care.
As members of the African Chiropractic Federation, you are all without doubt pioneers in our field. You are – right now – the chiropractors future generations will applaud for putting in the hard work. During this conference you will learn the ins and outs of setting up and running an association; how to research, network with and reach out to government officials in an impactful way from a professional lobby firm; how to create a simple message about chiropractic that hits notes on the personal and societal level from a professional PR firm – and we will together brainstorm with the eloquent and experienced Professor Richard Brown on what the action steps are for each member country for the coming decade. We are calling it Vision 2035 for African Chiropractic. Perhaps without realising it you assuredly are the giants whose shoulders the future will stand on, and we want to equip you so you can do an even better job at it.
Aside from some exciting hands-on workshops and our General Assembly, we have added an in-depth, hands-on 2 day seminar immediately following the conference. There’s also lots of opportunities to be social with our diverse group of colleagues during a number of social events. The conference takes place in the weekend of the world famous “Epiphany” and our gracious host, Dr. Selam Akliku, is most excited to welcome you all to her city and all it has to offer.
I hope to see you all there. Please spread the message far and wide on all platforms and let’s make this a well-attended and successful milestone event.
What’s On? At A Glance…
15th January – Welcome Reception Cocktail / Dinner
16th – 17th January – ACF Conference – Chiropractic Pioneers In Africa
16th January – Ethiopian Cultural Show and Dinner
18th – 19th January – Seminar – Dr Russ Hornstein, Adjusting to Neutral
Venue – Friendship International Hotel, Addis Ababa
Welcome Reception
Cocktail reception including outstanding delicacies and pre-conference socialising. ($25)
Conference and Speakers
Here are a few of the Speakers you can expect to see at the conference. Please keep checking this site or our other social media for updates on the speakers…
Prof Richard Brown
Professor Richard Brown serves as the Secretary-General of the World Federation of Chiropractic, a post he has held since 2015. In this capacity, he is an international ambassador for the chiropractic profession and is the designated focal point for the World Health Organization.
He qualified from the UK’s AECC University College in 1990 and was in continuous private practice for 25 years. He has a Master of Laws degree from Cardiff University. Prior to his current role, Professor Brown was the President of the British Chiropractic Association (2009-2013) and was the European Chiropractic Union’s first Secretary-General (2013-2015).
He is the founder of the Chiropractic Research Council, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting research and evidence based practice in the UK. In 2015, he served as a volunteer with World Spine Care in Botswana and is a member of its Executive Board. In 2022, he was awarded a Visiting Professorship of AECC University College.
Professor Brown remains in part-time clinical practice, where he operates a dedicated spine clinic in a UK National Health Service primary care medical centre.
Dr Russ Hornstein
Dr. Russ Hornstein is a Chiropractic Neurologist with 27 years experience and a strong focus and training in vestibular rehabilitation, head and eye movement disorders and neuro orthopaedic rehabilitation. His career has been highly dedicated to understanding and accurately assessing spinal biomechanics as well as a quest for the most effective tools in resolving poor joint function. Over the last four years he has developed the Adjusting to Neutral technique which does not require locking out the joint at the end range yet is proving to resolve joint dysfunction precisely, quickly and with greater comfort to patients.
About the workshop during the conference
Dr. Hornstein will be presenting at the African Chiropractic Federation Conference on ‘Tonic Congruence’ a theory of brain function that when implemented can be utilised to determine which joint issue is creating the greatest compromise to the nervous system. The general concept is that the tonic, position sensors in joints, muscles and the inner ear all receive constant information that integrates to tell us where we are in relation to gravity. These tonic receptors also have a vital role to potentiate, or give low level activation to most every part of our brain. When some spinal joints fail to move normally, it decreases this activation and the brain function can suffer as a result of the lack of stimulation. Also, the joints moving differently than what the brain directs them results in sensory feedback that is incongruent with the other joints, muscles and vestibular system. Spinal joint problems can create these ‘Tonic Congruence’ issues that are constantly firing to the brain and altering many aspects of its function.
Dr. Hornstein will be presenting a clear and practical lecture that will empower each participant with a simple test that will enable them to pinpoint the primary spinal joint failure and which vector of motion it is failing in. There will also be a practical Adjusting to Neutral seminar where participants will learn this technique.
Dr Vivian Kil
The ACF board is beyond excited that Dr. Kil is joining us via zoom during our conference. She will be speaking on the why and the how of being an accidental leader – she knows first hand, like you will, what it’s like be thrown into association work without much advance preparation or pre-existing ambitions but when the situation calls for it, to step up and take it on.
Vivian Kil is the President of the European Chiropractors Union, where she champions the advancement of chiropractic care across Europe. Over the past 15 years she has been actively involved in various professional organizations nationally and internationally, advocating for regulatory standards and educational excellence.
Vivian is passionate about fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals and increasing public awareness of chiropractic benefits. Under her leadership, the ECU aims to strengthen the profession’s voice in health policy in Europe and ensure that chiropractic care is accessible to all. She also runs a small multi-disciplinary clinic in her home town Beek, the Netherlands. Vivian has dedicated her career to enhancing patient outcomes and promoting evidence-based practices within the chiropractic community.
Program of Events
Ethiopian Dinner and Cultural Dance
We’ve arranged a splendid Dinner and Dance during our ACF Conference in January – a scrumptious dinner showcasing the best of Ethiopian cuisine, and a feast for your eyes through traditional Ethiopian dancing. A social event not to miss! ($25)
Seminar
Dr Russ Hornstein is a Chiropractic Neurologist.
He will conduct a workshop during the conference and a 2 day hands on adjusting seminar following the conference.
We are excited to welcome Dr Russ Hornstein to the African Continent!
Dr Hornstein has 27 years experience and a strong focus and training in vestibular rehabilitation, head and eye movement disorders and neuro orthopaedic rehabilitation. His career has been highly dedicated to understanding and accurately assessing spinal biomechanics as well as a quest for the most effective tools in resolving poor joint function. Over the last four years he has developed the ‘ADJUSTING TO NEUTRAL’ technique which does not require locking out the joint at the end range, yet is proving to resolve joint dysfunction precisely, quickly and with greater comfort to patients.
“Adjusting to Neutral”
A new approach to fast and lasting restoration of joint function. Adjusting to Neutral is an easy adaptation of our HVLA Chiropractic methods that recalibrates the intrinsic spinal musculature, addresses spinal segmental instability and improves range of motion. This hands-on seminar starts with practical diagnostic tools used by neurologists to help you get to the root of cervical and lumbar spine issues. You will acquire tools to palpate and accurately describe the vector of instability and alteration of the axis of rotation of each joint. With these capacities, you will be able to direct your adjustments to precisely restore the joint function and resolve core neurological failures precisely and quickly.
This course has been designed to empower all participants to gain the knowledge and skills to confidently treat cervical and lumbar joints with Adjusting to Neutral techniques.
ETHIOPIAN VISA INFORMATION
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Hotel reservations can be emailed directly to Friendship Hotel
marketing@friendshiphotel.com.et
Att. Mr. Tesfaye
African Chiropractic Federation 