Debate

Chiropractic as spine care: a model for the profession

Craig F Nelson¹ , Dana J Lawrence² , John J Triano³ , Gert Bronfort⁴ , Stephen M Perle⁵ , R Douglas Metz¹ , Kurt Hegetschweiler¹ and Thomas LaBrot¹

¹  American Specialty Health 777 Front St. San Diego, CA 92101, USA

²  Palmer Centre for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chisopractic, 1000 Brady Street Davenport, IA 52803, USA

³  Texas Back Institute 6020 W. Parker Road Plano, TX 75093, USA

⁴  Northwestern Health Sciences University 2501 W. 84th St. Bloomington, MN 55431, USA

⁵  University of Bridgeport 126 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604, USA

author email corresponding author email

Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2005, 13:9doi:10.1186/1746-1340-13-9

Published:	6 July 2005

Abstract

Background

More than 100 years after its inception the chiropractic profession has failed to define itself in a way that is understandable, credible and scientifically coherent. This failure has prevented the profession from establishing its cultural authority over any specific domain of health care.

Objective

To present a model for the chiropractic profession to establish cultural authority and increase market share of the public seeking chiropractic care.

Discussion

The continued failure by the chiropractic profession to remedy this state of affairs will pose a distinct threat to the future viability of the profession. Three specific characteristics of the profession are identified as impediments to the creation of a credible definition of chiropractic: Departures from accepted standards of professional ethics; reliance upon obsolete principles of chiropractic philosophy; and the promotion of chiropractors as primary care providers. A chiropractic professional identity should be based on spinal care as the defining clinical purpose of chiropractic, chiropractic as an integrated part of the healthcare mainstream, the rigorous implementation of accepted standards of professional ethics, chiropractors as portal-of-entry providers, the acceptance and promotion of evidence-based health care, and a conservative clinical approach.

Conclusion

This paper presents the spine care model as a means of developing chiropractic cultural authority and relevancy. The model is based on principles that would help integrate chiropractic care into the mainstream delivery system while still retaining self-identity for the profession.