Does Chiropractic Technique equal practice success??? The answer is NO. The chiropractic technique you choose does not determine your success. However, many of the most successful chiropractors also have a very strong technique affiliation. They know what they’re doing and why. They treat every patient with the same standard of care. They are systemized and methodical. They know what they are looking for and they know it when they see it. They have taken additional courses and attended seminars to learn and master the technique they have chosen. They have a good reason for practicing the technique they practice.
Not everyone chooses to master one or more specific chiropractic techniques and many stick only to what they learned in chiropractic college as core curriculum thinking that they’ve gotten “all they need to know”. Just like medical doctors specialize in specific fields like orthopedics, pediatrics, neurology, ect. So too, do chiropractors specialize in specific techniques like Nucca, AO, Activator, Gonstead, CBP, ect. that may not have been taught to them in chiropractic college. Specialized techniques in chiropractic require advanced studying, additional time and often travel and of course additional money, but so too offer additional rewards. There is no better reward than knowing you hold all your patients to the same standard of care and are not left playing a “guessing-game” of where to adjust, how, and why. I can see nothing more confusing or frustrating than trying to base your care off of merely symptoms alone without having some type of objective standard of care and goal of outcome.
I would also say that having a strong background and practicing a specific technique places you in a tremendous advantage over your peers who may be a “jack of all trades” but “master of none”. Those chiropractors who aren’t sure what to do typically end up doing a little bit of everything to “please” the patient and are always looking and adding to their practice thinking they’ve found the “silver bullet”. Whatever you want type of service and business mentality. Remember, your patients are coming to you for a reason. If they knew how to get well on their own, they would have already done so.
Study what techniques are out there, and choose one that makes the most sense to you. Learn it, become a great adjuster and be very, very good at what you do. Once you have mastered a technique, go ahead and continue to learn what else is out there. For example, in practicing and being certified in CBP technique, there were times that called for me to use upper cervical skills and to draw upon that knowledge as well.
When I go somewhere, I want to know that they do what it is I’m looking for and they do it good, very good. Perhaps you have extra training or certification or degrees. Let it be known and enjoy the benefits that come from it. Perhaps you are unsure of what you are doing and why, do the service to yourself, your patients, and the profession and learn, implement, and be rewarded.
