Chiropractic 2025:

Chiropractic 2025: Divergent Futures
APPENDIX 2: Background and
Key Forces Shaping Chiropractic
Scenarios present alternative paths to the future, in this case for chiropractic in 2025. Scenarios grow from a
consideration of a few key forces and many elements in the systems they portray. In constructing the scenarios for
this Chiropractic 2025 report, we reviewed our earlier scenarios, spoke with experts and leaders in chiropractic,
developed preliminary forecasts, and had structured interviews with many more leaders and experts in health
care and chiropractic. We also followed leads on specific topics, for example, chiropractors with successful or
novel practices, as well as chiropractors pursuing the “safety valve” option of becoming a physician’s assistant or
nurse practitioner. Those we interviewed are listed in Appendix 1 above. In this Appendix 2 we present some of
the thinking and assumptions about key forces related to chiropractic that shaped our forecasts. Where we used
published or Internet-available sources we will cite those. Where the thinking came from our interviews we will say
“an interviewee” or “multiple interviewees,” without identifying them, as the interviews were done on a confidential
basis.
The table of contents below identifies the range of key forces covered in this Appendix. Scenarios are intended to
allow individuals and organizations to think about what might happen, and what they want to happen. In considering
the discussion of these key forces, please consider to what extent you agree with the descriptions below. Feel free
to adjust any of the assumptions, make appropriate changes in the scenarios, and then use the revised scenarios to
consider the implications for the chiropractic field or for your practice.
36