The beginning of every new year is rife with prophecies about the coming year. While they are often interesting to read, no one really pays too much attention to them, which is good because most never come true or they are really only generalities. I believe that there has not been a legitimate prophecy since 96AD. I also believe that there are historical trends which can be mistaken for prophecy and these trends can tell us something about the future. I am not a prophet but I think that after observing this profession as a student and chiropractor for over 40 years and writing about it for over 20 years, I am in a position to see some historical trends. These trends could change overnight just as the trends of the US changed drastically after 9-11. Still, all things being equal, it’s likely that the following will occur:
Education. The decrease in enrollments at chiropractic colleges will likely continue. Some schools will be hard pressed to continue and will probably go the route of the “health universities,” adding acupuncture, oriental medicine and homeopathy to attract students. I would not be surprised if a very well-known chiropractic college went that route, one that only a few years ago would not possibly have taken that route. It should also not come as a surprise if one or two chiropractic schools closed in the next few years. At the same time, chiropractic education will continue to increase in its depth and breadth of medical information. Those who believed in the mid-60’s that chiropractic education should be longer and more medical have passed from the scene but their thinking is still prevalent and still dictates the content and hence the length of a chiropractic education. Professional Organization. The national associations will continue to struggle for membership. We have created a reverse JFK-mindset that says, “It’s not what you can do for your national organization, it’s what your national organization can do for you.” Frankly, national organizations are able to do less but chiropractors are looking for them to do more and more. The only thing that keeps state organizations “healthy” is they are more attuned to the needs of the local chiropractor and are able to address those needs on a state level.
The Chiropractic Profession as a Whole. Generally, I believe that the chiropractic profession will become more and more polarized. This is a trend that reaches into all strata of society. It becomes quite obvious in our national elections. This country is divided on its views and more important on its values. That polarization will be reflected more and more in the chiropractic profession. There has recently been talk about “two professions” i.e., splitting this profession. Most of the talk has come from the mixer-oriented side. But that is all that it is, talk. It will not come about ever, not in my opinion. In fact, I do not believe the discussion, especially the articles appearing in a national publication by leaders of two “liberal schools,” is even sincere. The purpose of their discussion, which on the surface appears to be polarizing, is intended to do just the opposite. Their desire is to draw the profession together, to make everyone take one side or the other. At this point we have probably four or five professions. These writers themselves have no ability to grasp the larger concept of non-therapeutic, objective straight chiropractic so they believe that its philosophy is out of the mainstream of chiropractic thinking and will be rejected by the vast majority of the profession. If the profession were asked to choose one side or the other, either the Janse model of the 60’s or the B.J. model of the 20’s, they believe that 90% of the chiropractic profession would choose the former. I am inclined to think that they are correct. As much as we maintain that most chiropractors do not want to prescribe drugs, and they probably do not, I don’t think many would be opposed to other chiropractors doing it. If they were forced to choose between being identified with non-therapeutic chiropractors or drug-prescribing chiropractors, they would choose the latter because they have the same objective, just a different means. Further complicating this “polarization” is the fact that the traditional or B.J. chiropractor (chiropractic gets sick people well…vertebral subluxation is the cause of all disease) realizes he is not an OSC or non-therapeutic chiropractor and neither group wants to be associated with the other. So even the 10% is divided. Those mixers calling for a split are counting on this. They do not want a divided profession or two professions. They want to destroy any and every semblance of straight chiropractic. That is, has been, and will always be their one goal. They will use any means to do it, whether it is destroying or changing our educational programs, controlling the state boards or controlling the profession.
Objective, non-therapeutic straight chiropractic. I believe the future of non-therapeutic straight chiropractic is bright. Clearly, the idea of correcting vertebral subluxations so that the body can work at its maximum potential is not something that will attract the world to your door. Nothing will do that. If you had an absolute cure for cancer the whole world would not beat a path to your door, only those with cancer. But I think that compared with other approaches to chiropractic, the objective straight approach has the best future. Not everyone has a back problem and many that do will seek other alternatives instead of chiropractic. Not everyone is interested in doing all they can to maximize their life, but many will, I believe enough to support our entire profession so I’m sure it is enough to support those who choose non-therapeutic straight chiropractic. It will not be easy for non-therapeutic straight chiropractors. It is becoming more and more difficult to reach people with this message when so many chiropractors are presenting a much different message.
Unless objective straight chiropractors develop more ways to educate the public and utilize the present tools, not to mention create more they will struggle to build practices. The public needs to be saturated with this different and logical message about chiropractic before they begin to accept it. That will not happen with the small one-on-one efforts of the local straight chiropractor. Nor will it happen if the chiropractor depends upon practice members to refer people into the office.
Non-therapeutic straight chiropractic will continue to be a small group of chiropractors with less and less effect and impact upon society outside of individual practices unless they become an organized group with specific plans and programs to impact the schools, attract new practitioners and reach those who are dissatisfied with their present form of practice.
Overall, the future of chiropractic is neither good nor bad. It depends upon the thinking and the actions of chiropractors. That is why these are not prophecies. Prophecies predict what will happen. Historical trends predict what will happen if the current thinking and current actions continue. It is up to us to establish the future of this profession and of our approach to its practice