Systems Chiropractic™

The Healer’s Dilemma: Identity Crisis in Modern Chiropractic

“Should I stay traditional or go mainstream?” Dr. Sarah K. Cheng whispers to herself while reviewing her patient’s file.

Like many chiropractors today, she stands torn between two worlds: the philosophical roots that birthed her profession and the evidence-based medicine that now dominates healthcare.

This tension isn’t new. Since ancient times, healers have used their hands to relieve pain, progressing from intuitive bone-setting to sophisticated manipulation techniques. Yet, today’s chiropractors face an unprecedented challenge. As scientific scrutiny questions traditional concepts like subluxation, practitioners must choose to maintain their distinctive approach or blend into mainstream healthcare’s collaborative model.

Some, like Dr. Cheng, see this as more than just a professional choice—it’s an identity crisis. “When I graduated, I wanted to be a healer,” she reflects. “Now I’m expected to be a healthcare technician.” This sentiment echoes across the profession, revealing a more profound question: In adapting to modern healthcare, is chiropractic losing its soul?

The answer lies not in choosing sides but in expanding our understanding. Through her complex cases, Dr. Cheng discovered that neither the traditional subluxation model nor purely biomechanical approaches could fully explain her patients’ responses to care. The human body, she realized, functions as an intricate network of interconnected systems, where change in one area creates ripple effects throughout the whole.

Modern systems thinking offers a solution by embracing both holistic and reductionist perspectives. This dual approach allows practitioners to understand both the forest and the trees—examining broad patterns while appreciating crucial details. For chiropractic, this framework bridges the gap between traditional wisdom and modern science, offering a more complete understanding of human health.