Chiropractic Schism Research Paper

Chiropractic as a profession has forever been criticized for being “outside of mainstream medical institutions” and categorized as “complementary and an alternative medicine,” (Meeker, 2002). This is due to their new/unique methods (historically speaking) not educated to consumers sufficiently and also the intra-professional conflict that is present. This conflict is described as the schism that exists within the chiropractic field currently, and defined as “a split or division between strongly apposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief,” (Dictionary.com). In the following essay, this schism that divides chiropractic will be discussed further including its causes, as well as how it affects the profession within

The other type of chiropractors are recognized as ‘mixers’ who are inclined to use a evidence based approach towards patients, in-cooperating modern medicine as well as spinal adjustments in order to be identified as medical professionals (Keating, 1995). Palmer’s views are described as straight, as he thought of himself as a revolutionary scientist and philosopher who could use chiropractic to answer the fundamental questions of life (Donahue, 1986). He developed the term Innate Intelligence, defined as “the concept of an inherent healing ability of the body,” (Meeker, 2002) to help explain how chiropractic adjustments can correctly align the spine so that innate intelligence can continue to govern functions correctly (Donahue, 1992). This is where there is a clear schism and conflict between sub-cultures of chiropractic as although they share the same idea that Palmer had in which he wanted to fix health issues of society without antagonizing other professions; they both have very different views and methods that are performed (Donahue, 1986). Fortunately, both distinct groups of Chiropractors result in successful treatments and therefore happy patients, with the amount of visits to clinics increasing from 3.6% of the US in 1980 to 11% in 1997, with an ever growing popularity to refer friends and family to chiropractors too (Meeker, 2002). Unfortunately like any profession in the Health Care system, there are chiropractors that do give unorthodox treatment, which is one of the reasons that some of the general public are still uncertain about the profession that chiropractic