The number of chiropractors in the state of Oregon is growing faster than the population, but Bill Pleau thinks there’s room for at least one more. Him.

After he graduates from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland this December, Pleau plans to open an office in Beaverton.

“I (have) a passion for putting hands on people and alleviating their pain,” said the former massage therapist.

Nationwide, there are about 80,000 chiropractors, according to the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards. That works out to about one chiropractor for every 3,825 people.

In Oregon, there are currently 1,375 active chiropractors — one for every 2,787 people, according to the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners. That’s up from one for every 3,474 people in 1999.

Rather than alarm Pleau, the steady increase in chiropractors per capita in Oregon pleases him. Pleau considers other chiropractors colleagues, not competitors. As their ranks grow, so does public awareness of chiropractics, he said.

“It sounds like it’s saturated but it’s really not because the majority of people don’t go to chiropractors,” said Dr. Noé Flores, who graduated from Western States a year ago.

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