title: Chiropractic at the crossroads or are we just going around in circles?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chiropractic in Australia has seen many changes over the past 30 years. Some of these changes have advanced the professional status of chiropractic, improved undergraduate training and paved the way for a research culture. Unfortunately, other changes or lack of changes, have hindered the growth, public utilisation and professional standing of chiropractic in Australia. This article explores what influences have impacted on the credibility, advancement and public utilisation of chiropractic in Australia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 1970's and 1980's saw a dramatic change within the chiropractic profession in Australia. With the advent of government regulation, came government funded teaching institutions, quality research and increased public acceptance and utilisation of chiropractic services. However, since that time the profession appears to have taken a backward step, which in the author's opinion, is directly linked to a shift by sections of the profession to the fundamentalist approach to chiropractic and the vertebral subluxation complex. The abandonment, by some groups, of a scientific and evidenced based approach to practice for one founded on ideological dogma is beginning to take its toll.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The future of chiropractic in Australia is at a crossroads. For the profession to move forward it must base its future on science and not ideological dogma. The push by some for it to become a unique and all encompassing alternative system of healthcare is both misguided and irrational.
authors: Suite1/593 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham, Victoria, 3132 Australia. reggars@chirofirst.com.au.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Reggars
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2005 Aug 10;13:17
references: 16092955
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2008 Aug 29;16:10
references: 18759966
references: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992 Feb;15(2):83-9
references: 1373431
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2005 Jul 06;13:9
references: 16000175
references: Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Jan-Feb;11(1):42-9
references: 15712765
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2009 Dec 02;17:13
references: 19954544
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2010 Feb 25;18(1):4
references: 20184721
references: Ann Intern Med. 2002  Feb 5;136(3):216-27
references: 11827498
references: COMSIG Rev. 1993 Mar 1;2(1):1-4
references: 17989742
references: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Jul-Aug;31(6):397-410
references: 18722194