Research suggests specialized training provides benefits for healthcare professionals, such as promoting evidence-based practices while also positively impacting patient outcomes. With so many chiropractic specialties to choose from, ranging from prenatal or pediatric chiropractic to a specialization in pain management or sports, deciding which path to follow can be a difficult choice.
Here are five strategies that can help.
1. Consider your passions or interests
Several studies have connected having a passion for one’s work with increased job satisfaction, reduced intention to leave a profession and higher levels of engagement. Put together, these all contribute to a more satisfying career.
Consider whether there is a chiropractic specialty that sparks your interest most. Is there a specialty you enjoy learning more about or that catches your attention when reading the latest research?
What about your passions outside of chiropractic? If you never miss a local football game, sports chiropractic may be a specialty to consider. If you have a passion for all–natural therapies, you could specialize in naturopathic chiropractic.
2. Identify patients you want to work with most
Another approach to deciding which chiropractic specialty to pursue is to identify the patients you enjoy treating the most. Is there a particular type of patient that, when they walk in the door, you look forward to diagnosing or treating them?
For example, maybe you see multiple patients who work within an industry known for musculoskeletal pain or injury. Specializing in occupational chiropractic better enables you to help this demographic find relief. If you find greater joy when working with expecting mothers, prenatal chiropractic may be a better fit.
3. Advance your current areas of knowledge
Do you already have a higher level of knowledge within a certain area of chiropractic? Pursuing additional training in that chiropractic specialty can help advance your education and skills.
Think about all the training courses you’ve taken since entering the profession. Look for any themes in areas of specialization or interest. Also, consider continuing education courses you’ve completed, as these may provide insight into a potential specialization.
4. Capitalize on growing areas of chiropractic
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 9% growth in chiropractic employment between 2022 and 2032, which equates to roughly 2,600 new openings for DCs each year. It attributes this “much faster than average” growth rate in large part to the aging population.
Professionals can capitalize on this chiropractic specialty by caring for seniors or elderly patients. Research indicates the most common issues with patients over 65 are back problems (56%), with soft tissue techniques used most frequently and practitioners often recommending exercise as part of treatment.
Chiropractic industry analyses also suggest growth in this field is likely to occur as a result of more people having desk jobs or a sedentary lifestyle. Promoting services specific to these demographics can help grow your practice.
5. Pursue a chiropractic specialty with certification
A chiropractic specialty can be denoted with certification. Certification helps protect standardization within a specialty, also serving as verification of competency in that area. Finding a chiropractic certification that resonates with you is another way to decide on a specialization.
The American Chiropractic Association provides a list of certifications meeting American Board of Chiropractic Specialties (ABCS) standards. Among them are:
- American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture Diplomate (DABCA)
- Chiropractic Board of Clinical Nutrition Diplomate (DCBCN)
- American Board of Radiology Diplomate (DACBR)
- American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians Diplomate (DACBSP)
Final thoughts
In the end, there are numerous ways to find the best specialty for you and your patients, providing positive outcomes for both.
