Myth 4: Chiropractic Isn’t Evidence-Based

This belief is common and it’s one we hear occasionally from the public following conflicting information.


In today’s healthcare landscape, there is both more information, and more confusion, than ever before. Social media clips, outdated opinions, and isolated anecdotes are often louder than evidence or real-world outcomes. As a result, Chiropractic is frequently misunderstood or judged through the lens of poor experiences.


The irony is that the idea that Chiropractors “aren’t real health professionals” does not come from a lack of regulation, education, or evidence. It comes from obscurity and lack of consistency across the profession, something most patients are never told.


Chiropractic has a wide range of practice styles. Some are highly structured, evidence-informed, and get great results. Others are not. When people encounter Chiropractic done poorly, it’s understandable that they question the whole profession.


We explain what Chiropractic actually is under Australian regulation, why this myth continues to exist, how standards vary across the profession, and how Adjusting to Health operates very differently applying the Health Blueprint™ process.

What Some Don’t Realise


Chiropractic is not just another unregulated therapy in Australia.

Chiropractors are primary contact health professionals who are:


  • Registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
  • Regulated by AHPRA and the Chiropractic Board of Australia
  • Required to continually meet strict clinical, ethical, and safety standards
  • Trained in anatomy, neuroscience and radiology


This places Chiropractic alongside medicine, physiotherapy, dentistry, and psychology in terms of regulatory oversight and professional accountability. Confusion arises not because Chiropractic lacks legitimacy, but because not all Chiropractors practise the same way.


At Adjusting to Health, We Don't Guess, We Test

Where The Confusion Comes From


Some clinics operate with:


Minimal assessment, maximum guesswork

No structured patient care process

  • Heavy reliance on passive therapies
  • No neurological testing


Research has shown that passive modalities such as massage, laser therapy, and ultrasound do not produce meaningful or lasting outcomes for chronic spinal conditions when used in isolation (Ebadi et al., 2020; Fuentes et al., 2010).


When patients experience this style of care, it is understandable that they walk away thinking Chiropractic itself does not work. The reality is that Chiropractic at that clinic didn't work and a failure of how Chiropractic was delivered there.

How Adjusting to Health Is Different


Here, Chiropractic is practised as a clinical discipline, not a generic therapy.

Our doctors follow the Health Blueprint™ process ensuring care is:


  • Safe
  • Appropriate
  • Individualised
  • Measurable


Every new patient we see goes through the Health Blueprint™ process. This exists for only one reason.

To ensure we find and address the root cause, not just guess based on symptoms.

Our Commitment To Professional Excellence

We do not rely on outdated methods or training.

Adjusting to Health has reinvested hundreds of thousands of dollars into:


  • Postgraduate education
  • Advanced clinical training
  • Evidence-based assessment systems
  • Ongoing professional development for our entire team


We invest heavily in staying current because healthcare evolves, and so should the standards that guide it.

This commitment is also why we are trusted by thousands of patients.

The Bottom Line


Chiropractors are real health professionals.

But not all Chiropractors are the same.


When Chiropractic is delivered without structure, assessment, or accountability, results suffer.

When Chiropractic is delivered through a modern, evidence-based process like the Health Blueprint™, it is allowed to shine for what it is, a regulated, clinical profession focused on restoring function and nervous system health.

References


Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) (2023). Code of conduct for registered health practitioners. Canberra: AHPRA.


Ebadi, S. et al. (2020). Therapeutic ultrasound for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 7, CD009169.


Fuentes, J. et al. (2010). Effectiveness of interferential current therapy in musculoskeletal pain. Physical Therapy, 90(9), pp. 1219–1238.