While it may not seem like it, the chiropractic profession in the U.S. is changing. Some changes are subtle in nature; others are not. Practice Analysis of Chiropractic 2020, produced by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, is the most recent effort to identify those changes.
Today's DC is definitely not the same as 30 years ago. In 1991, women made up only 13.3% of DCs. Now, women make up almost one-third (31.8%), and are the majority (53.2%) of DCs under age 30. Over that same period, the percentage of DCs with bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees (exclusive of the DC degree) has grown from half (53.7%) to over 80%, with almost all (95.4%) DCs under age 40 having at least one.
Cash is king, with over a third (36.3%) of chiropractic cases paid with private pay or cash. Only a quarter (25.4%) are paid through insurance (non-managed care), with Medicare/Medicaid at 14.3% and managed care at 9.3%.
Twenty-eight percent of DCs provide care to our military, a huge jump from 6.7% just five years prior. Almost two-thirds (65%) of doctors focus on wellness and maintenance care. Other popular areas of focus are orthopedics / injuries (39.5%), care of athletes (39.4%), pediatrics (38.8%), rehabilitation (37.9%) and nutritional recommendations (33.3%).
Almost half of DCs (44.1%) read peer-reviewed research at least weekly; 13.7% at least daily. Consequently, almost one-third (30.6%) provide research-based treatment several times daily, and over half (51.1%) do so at least weekly.
For the first time, the analysis provides data on DCs who practice part-time (less than 20 hours a week) and those who do not currently practice. Non-practicing DCs tend to be male (63.8%) and 60 years or older (46%). Part-timers are slightly more likely to be male (52.2%) and 60 years or older (37%). Almost one-fifth of part-timers (18.9%) are homemakers; 16.7% work as faculty members.
Non-practicing doctors tend to be retired (36.7%), with 14.9% working as faculty members of chiropractic and non-chiropractic institutions. Less than one-third of those not practicing (32.2%) have actually left the profession.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
