Chiropractic care, originally developed in the Western world, has expanded west, often bringing with it the promise of holistic wellness practices that diverge significantly from traditional medical treatments. However, as this health care practice crosses borders into Asia, the involvement of Western chiropractic organizations has not been entirely beneficial. In fact, there is growing concern that these organizations are negatively impacting the development of chiropractic care in Asian countries.
This article explores the various ways in which these organizations may be undermining the profession's integrity and potential in the Asian context.
Lowering Professional Standards
One of the most significant issues with the expansion of Western chiropractic organizations into Asia is the dilution of professional standards. In many Western countries, to use the word chiropractic requires extensive education, including a bachelor’s degree followed by a four-year doctoral graduate program, and passing national board exams.
However, in Asian countries without regulatory boards, these institutes share brand affiliations that do not provide the depth of knowledge or practical experience necessary to ensure safe and effective care. For instance, some organizations offer quick seminars to non-chiropractors, but brand them as a chiropractic certificate or membership.
Inappropriate and Insufficient Training
The training offered by these Western associations/institutes often does not account for the significant medical knowledge required to practice chiropractic safely. Short-term courses, which can last just a few days to a few weeks, are starkly inadequate compared to the years of study required in the West. This inadequate training can lead to improper practices, misdiagnoses, and ultimately, patient harm, undermining the credibility of the profession in Asia.
Economic Exploitation
Another critical concern is the potential economic exploitation of Asian markets by Western chiropractic organizations. These entities often view Asia as a new market to expand their influence and increase profitability. They start to take Asian brands for endorsement without investigations.
This commercial approach focuses more on selling chiropractic certifications, memberships, and products rather than genuinely improving the health outcomes of Asian populations. Such practices can shift the focus from identity of chiropractic to quantity of sales, eroding the true essence of chiropractic care as a patient-centered practice.
Undermining Local Health Care Practices
Western organizations also risk undermining local health care traditions that have been in place for centuries, such as traditional Chinese medicine and various forms of indigenous therapy. By promoting Western chiropractic practices as superior or more scientifically valid without proper contextualization, these associations can diminish the value and use of local knowledge and techniques that are often highly effective and culturally significant.
Regulatory and Legal Challenges
The influx of foreign brand trained bone setters and those certified through the organizations complicates regulatory efforts in Asian countries. Without stringent regulations comparable to those in the West, the market can become flooded with practitioners of varying skill levels and qualifications, making it difficult for patients to discern qualified chiropractors from those less so.
This lack of regulation not only endangers patient safety but also hampers the professional development of chiropractic in Asia.
Dependence on Western Validation
There is an overt dependence on Western credentials and validation, which can stifle the growth of local educational institutions and professional bodies. This dependence can prevent the development of a distinctly Asian chiropractic identity that respects and integrates local medical philosophies and practices. Therefore, the chiropractic regulators who had opposite political views can easily impose difficulty for the establishment of local chiropractic schools.
For example, the Hong Kong Chiropractors Association has been publicly linked in negative news with the newly established College of Chiropractic (run by McTimoney College of Chiropractic).
Market Saturation and Professional Identity
The rapid increase in the number of bone setters who are certified by the chiropractic organizations can lead to market saturation. This not only makes it challenging for chiropractors to sustain their practices, but also dilutes the professional identity and standards of the field. As a result, chiropractic can become seen not as a specialized medical profession, but as a mere supplementary service akin to massage therapy.
For example, China bone setters now use “American chiropractic technique” as their marketing materials, suggesting they understand chiropractic.
Discussion / Takeaway
The expansion of Western chiropractic organizations into Asia represents a double-edged sword. While it brings a new form of health care to the region, it also poses significant risks by potentially lowering professional standards, offering insufficient training, and undermining local health care practices.
For chiropractic care to truly benefit Asian populations, it must be adapted to meet local needs and integrated respectfully with traditional health care practices. This requires a collaborative approach that values stringent educational standards, cultural sensitivity, and regulatory oversight to ensure that chiropractic develops as a reputable and effective component of Asia’s health care systems.
Only through such measures can the integrity of chiropractic care be maintained, ensuring that it contributes positively to the health and well-being of Asian communities.
