Perceptions of the Chiropractic Profession: An American perspective
Main Article Content
Abstract
The chiropractic profession was created in America by a former Canadian, D.D. Palmer in 1895. Although chiropractors are licensed in all fifty states in America, the profession is still misunderstood. Insurance companies continue to label chiropractic as a specialty rather than a profession. The integration of chiropractic medicine and chiropractic postdoctoral training into medical organizations has been occurring since the 1970’s. Yet the majority of chiropractors, medical doctors and medical organizations know little about chiropractic postdoctoral training. This editorial intends to illustrate the perceptions of chiropractic patients, Federally Qualified Health Centers, medical physicians, and chiropractic physicians in the United States of America. Searches of the literature included peer-reviewed articles, professional magazines, and tabloids.
Article Details
How to Cite
LEHMAN, James J..
Perceptions of the Chiropractic Profession: An American perspective.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 13, n. 9, sep. 2025.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6839>. Date accessed: 06 dec. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v13i9.6839.
Section
Editorial
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
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25. Pasternak DP, Lehman JJ, Smith HL, Piland NF. Can medicine and chiropractic practice side-by-side? Implications for healthcare delivery. Hosp Top. 1999; 77(2):8-17. doi:10.1080/00185869909596520
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27. Garner MJ, Birmingham M, Aker P, et al. Developing integrative primary healthcare delivery: adding a chiropractor to the team. Explore (NY). 2008;4(1):18-24. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2007.10.003
28. Lehman JJ, Suozzi PJ, Simmons GR, Jegtvig SK. Patient perceptions in New Mexico about doctors of chiropractic functioning as primary care providers with limited prescriptive authority. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(1):12-17. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.09.001
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30. University of Bridgeport Chiropractic Residency. Dynamic Chiropractic. May 2023. Available from: https://dynamicchiropractic.com/article/59327-qa-university-of-bridgeport-chiropractic-residency-program.
31. Stochkendahl MJ, Rezai M, Torres P, et al. The chiropractic workforce: a global review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2019;27:36. Published 2019 Jul 24. doi:10.1186/s12998-019-0255-x
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40. Lehman J. Potential residency and fellowship programs for Primary Care Chiropractic physicians in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Addressing the shortage of Primary Care Physicians: Published in Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. January 14, 2025. https://journal.parker.edu/article/128341-potential-residency-and-fellowship-programs-for-primary-care-chiropractic-physicians-in-federally-qualified-health-centers-addressing-the-shortage-of.
2. Sportelli L. The Discovery, Development and Current Status of the Chiropractic Profession. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2019;18(6):20-22.
3. Bronston LJ, Austin-McClellan LE, Lisi AJ, Donovan KC, Engle WW. A Survey of American Chiropractic Association Members' Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Practice in Integrated Health Care Settings. J Chiropr Med. 2015;14(4): 227-239. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2015.06.004
4. Batinić J, Skowron M, Hammerich K. Did American social and economic events from 1865 to 1898 influence D.D. Palmer the chiropractor and entrepreneur? J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2013;57(3): 221-232.
5. Johnson CD, Green BN. Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession part 7: Lawsuit and decisions. J Chiropr Educ. 2021; 35(S1):97-116. doi:10.7899/JCE-21-28
6. Johnson CD, Green BN. Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession part 6: Preparing for the lawsuit. J Chiropr Educ. 2021;35(S1):85-96. doi:10.7899/JCE-21-27
7. Johnson CD, Green BN. Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession part 5: Evidence exposed. J Chiropr Educ. 2021; 35(S1):74-84. doi:10.7899/JCE-21-26
8. Johnson CD, Green BN. Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession part 5: Evidence exposed. J Chiropr Educ. 2021; 35(S1):74-84. doi:10.7899/JCE-21-26
9. Weeks WB, Goertz CM, Meeker WC, Marchiori DM. Public Perceptions of Doctors of Chiropractic: Results of a National Survey and Examination of Variation According to Respondents' Likelihood to Use Chiropractic, Experience With Chiropractic, and Chiropractic Supply in Local Health Care Markets. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(8):533-544. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.08.001
10. Weeks WB, Goertz CM, Meeker WC, Marchiori DM. Characteristics of US Adults Who Have Positive and Negative Perceptions of Doctors of Chiropractic and Chiropractic Care. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016;39(3):150-157. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.02.001
11. Himmelfarb I, Johnson CD, Green BN, Bond GD, Shotts BL, Outz NE. Practice Analysis of Chiropractic - 2025. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. April 16, 2025. https://www.nbce.org/practice-analysis-of-chiropractic-2025-2/.
12. Gosalia A. Third-Party Payers… The Silver Bullet? Semin Hear. 2019 Aug;40(3):207-213. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1693490. Epub 2019 Aug 13. PMID: 31413437; PMCID: PMC6692146.
13. Providers struggle as reimbursement increases don’t address all economic challenges. Baker Tilly. https://www.bakertilly.com/insights/healthcare-providers-system-reimbursement.
14. Chiropractic Practice Analysis 2025. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Available from: https://www.nbce.org/wp-content/uploads/Practice-Analysis-of-Chiropractic-2025.pdf
15. Association of Chiropractic Colleges. Best Chiropractic Schools Guide 2025. Available from: https://discoverchiropractic.org/
16. Schut SM. Postgraduate training opportunities for chiropractors: A description of United States programs. J Chiropr Educ. 2024;38(1):104-114. doi:10.7899/JCE-23-23
17. Accredited chiropractic residencies. Council on Chiropractic Education. Available from:
https://www.cce-usa.org/residency-info.html
18. Carmichael JP. Chiropractic residency at Lindell Hospital: a program description. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1988;11(3):177-180.
19. Tomei KL, Selby LV, Kirk LM, et al. Beyond Training the Next Generation of Physicians: The Unmeasured Value Added by Residents to Teaching Hospitals and Communities. Acad Med. 2022;97(11): 1592-1596. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000004792
20. Schut SM, Cole Ii MR, Price MR, Bucki FM, McCann BH, Corcoran KL. Chiropractic residencies and fellowships as continuing education: a review of chiropractic state boards policies. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24(1):1338. Published 2024 Nov 20. doi:10.1186/s12909-024-06348-4
21. Johnson CD, Green BN, Amorin-Woods LG, et al. Global status of chiropractic education research and scholarly publications: a scoping review. JBI Evid Synth. 2025;23(4):638-703. doi:10.11124/JB IES-24-00122
22. Piland NF, Smith HL. The Lovelace Medical Center: strategies for advancing health care services in the southwest. J Med Pract Manage. 1989;4(3): 190-196.
23. Patton A. Man in the Moon: The nation’s space program got off the ground with the help of an HMS surgeon. Harvard Medicine Magazine. March 14, 201. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/man-moon.
24. Kelly S. New Mexico’s leading HMO to open chiropractic facility. Dynamic Chiropractic. May 1991. https://dynamicchiropractic.com/article/44285-new-mexicos-leading-hmo-to-open-chiropractic-facility.
25. Pasternak DP, Lehman JJ, Smith HL, Piland NF. Can medicine and chiropractic practice side-by-side? Implications for healthcare delivery. Hosp Top. 1999; 77(2):8-17. doi:10.1080/00185869909596520
26. Branson RA. Hospital-based chiropractic integration within a large private hospital system in Minnesota: a 10-year example. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009;32(9):740-748. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.1 0.014
27. Garner MJ, Birmingham M, Aker P, et al. Developing integrative primary healthcare delivery: adding a chiropractor to the team. Explore (NY). 2008;4(1):18-24. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2007.10.003
28. Lehman JJ, Suozzi PJ, Simmons GR, Jegtvig SK. Patient perceptions in New Mexico about doctors of chiropractic functioning as primary care providers with limited prescriptive authority. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(1):12-17. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2010.09.001
29. Health Care Reform: Integration of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain Treatment into Community Health Centers. ACA News. January 2016. https://www.bridgeport.edu/files/docs/academics/programs/postgrad/ortho-nmm/aca/aca-news-health-care-reform-integration-chiropractic-chronic-pain-jan-feb-2016.pdf.
30. University of Bridgeport Chiropractic Residency. Dynamic Chiropractic. May 2023. Available from: https://dynamicchiropractic.com/article/59327-qa-university-of-bridgeport-chiropractic-residency-program.
31. Stochkendahl MJ, Rezai M, Torres P, et al. The chiropractic workforce: a global review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2019;27:36. Published 2019 Jul 24. doi:10.1186/s12998-019-0255-x
32. National Health Center Program Uniform Data System (UDS) Awardee Data. Available from: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/data-reporting/program-data/national.
33. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001.
34. Ly DP, Glied SA. The impact of managed care contracting on physicians. J Gen Intern Med. 2014; 29(1):237-242. doi:10.1007/s11606-013-2589-8
35. Crowley R, Daniel H, Cooney TG, Engel LS; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Coverage and Cost of Care. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172(2 Suppl):S7-S32. doi:10.7326/M19-2415
36. Hoffer EP. Primary Care in the United States: Past, Present and Future. Am J Med. 2024;137(8): 702-705. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.03.012
37. Hart AM, Seagriff N, Flinter M. Sustained Impact of a Postgraduate Residency Training Program on Nurse Practitioners' Careers. J Prim Care Community Health. 2022;13:21501319221136938. doi:10.117 7/21501319221136938
38. Norwick R-M. Family Nurse Practitioner Residency for Recruiting and Retention. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2016, Pages e231-e233.
39. Davis MA, Mackenzie TA, Coulter ID, Whedon JM, Weeks WB. The United States Chiropractic Workforce: An alternative or complement to primary care? Chiropr Man Therap. 2012;20(1):35. Published 2012 Nov 21. doi:10.1186/2045-709X-20-35
40. Lehman J. Potential residency and fellowship programs for Primary Care Chiropractic physicians in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Addressing the shortage of Primary Care Physicians: Published in Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. January 14, 2025. https://journal.parker.edu/article/128341-potential-residency-and-fellowship-programs-for-primary-care-chiropractic-physicians-in-federally-qualified-health-centers-addressing-the-shortage-of.