Chiropractic Treatment: Bunk or Legit?

[Carlos 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

[dondigitalia 0]

The main problem I have is with chiropractors who claim that they can cure colds or other totally non-back-related problems. I don't have any trouble believing that chiropractors can ease back pain, but a lot of them claim to be able to cure all sorts of ailments, and like Penn & Teller, I think that's B.S.

[RayK 0]

I agree with Dave's statements, and more.

I think a lot of them are "witch doctors" as they claim that they can cure almost anything by realigning your back, neck or what ever. "Your having urine problems, lets realign your back. Your having numbness in your hands, lets realign your neck. Your MD told you that you have cancer, lets realign your spine."

A lot of chiropractors will have most clients come very often or when ever they injure themselves, which seems to be often. What their clients and everyone else needs to realize is that the body can generally heal itself. When ever we as humans hurt ourselves inflammation/swelling happens, every time. Along with this inflammation/swelling we are going to have discomfort, irritation and lack of mobility or function.

A tendon strain can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to fully heal itself. This is not sped up by seeing them, it is just the natural process. Sometimes people might see a chiropractor and the healing time is quicker. This would most likely be because the injury was not as intense, but the body is still healing itself. Also, with manipulation of muscles, which is also what they are doing, the endocrine system releases epinephrine to ease the pain and act as a muscle relaxant, basically our own pain killer. Is the wound any further along in its healing process? No, we just are not feeling the pain at this point.

Inflammation happens in many ways from your eye reacting to irritants in them, lacerations on your arm, broken bones or strained/worked muscles. But, either way it is an active defense reaction to the irritant or the injury

[Carlos 0]

Ok, so a Chiropractor would not be beneficial to me if I have a slipped-rib? All he would do is make the pain go away but not actually heal it any more quickly?

[RayK 0]

Ok, so a Chiropractor would not be beneficial to me if I have a slipped-rib?  All he would do is make the pain go away but not actually heal it any more quickly?

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If you have discoloration, swelling and pain in the area mentioned, I would advise seeing an MD to get x-rays taken. You could have either a broken rib or a strained tendon. But, considering what you do with your martial-arts I would say that it is part of the price that you are going to pay.

While in the Marine Corps we always tried to train at full-speed and as close to reality as possible. Sometimes this meant getting kicked in the ribs, arms, face and many other places. This caused extreme discomfort as you can imagen. But, I always healed without any trips to see a chiropractor.

Lastly your recuperation is tied to your metabolism which is tied to your genes. Some people are going to heal slightly faster than others, so what, there is no way to enhance this as all the toxins produced from an injury must flow through the blood-stream to the liver and kidneys to be dealt with. The wound can only heal as quickly as the other organs can process the toxins.

[Carlos 0]

I don't think it's bad enough to warrant x-rays or a real doctor visit; I was just curious whether a Chiropractor could make it go away more quickly.

I never knew that an injury created toxins that must be filtered out by your kindneys and liver. Is that why sometimes a very localized injury can affect the way your entire body feels in general?

[Stephen Speicher 0]

I don't think it's bad enough to warrant x-rays or a real doctor visit; I was just curious whether a Chiropractor could make it go away more quickly.

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Without getting involved in the general discussion, I just want to note that while there are many anecdotal reports of chiropractic benefit, there are also many where the situation was worsened.

[RayK 0]

I never knew that an injury created toxins that must be filtered out by your kindneys and liver.  Is that why sometimes a very localized injury can affect the way your entire body feels in general?

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Yes. Just like I have mentioned in the Progressive Exercise post many times, when we attack our body it takes the whole system to fight the attack and produce the possible positive effect. The whole body acts as one and Dr. Hans Selye does a wonderful job of explaining this and his theory of "General Adaptation Syndrome" in his book "The Stress Of Life". We can attack our arms, legs, chest or back locally and feel the discomfort or lactic acid burn locally. But, do not make the mistake that each area of the body does not draw its resources from the whole, as it does and always will.

I also would like to say that I agree with Stephen's last post, and have seen the negative situations.

I have one client that goes to a chiropractor all the time. She actually came in one time after visiting his office as she had a cold that he said he could help her get over. I think most know that this generally happens all on its own. Her daughter, who is less than a year old, also had a cold. The chiropractor supposedly moved his hands over the baby, without touching the baby and "felt" where the sickness was coming from. Then he supposedly exuded the negative energy from the babies body, and said the baby would be fine in a few days. The most amazing thing is that this woman actually believed this nonsense.

I have learned, like many on THE FORUM, that people will believe what ever they want while evading the truth. From a person having a revelation, to negative energy being exuded from a person by another person.

[Guest ElizabethLee]

I swear by chiro.

[herbDocJon 0]

I have never gone to a chiropractor. I have an aunt that has been seeing the same chiropractor for about 25 years now. If he hasn't been able to correct her problems he ought to refer her to another type of practice. If a problem is recurring in your body you need to find out why so you can correct it. I've worked for several chiropractors as a masage therapist. I quit the one and was fired from the other becasue the clients didn't come in for as many treatments after I worked on them. I DO BELIEVE IN MASSAGE and most chiroprators provide this service at their offices. I know of one man in particular that was injured when the chiropractor pulled on his neck.

[Stussy88 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

My experience for what it's worth....

I get periodic back problems dating from a sports injury 20 years ago. When they hit, they are pretty debillitating and I'm walking around "planet of the apes" style. That or lying flat or taking about 20 ibuprofen to dull the pain.

The woman I see can usualy fix me up in one or two sessions.

Also, one time I had a frozen neck. This sounds pathetic but I must have slepy awkwardly or something because my head seemed to be stuck 90 degrees to the right (seriously). Again she fixed me up after a session ~ although i may have looked a tad odd driving to see her

But I would agree, for spinal stuff okay, but anyone who reckons they can cure say alergies or cancer by back manipulation? Show me the independent, repeated, verifiable trials or don't make the claims.

[Stussy88 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

My experience for what it's worth....

I get periodic back problems dating from a sports injury 20 years ago. When they hit, they are pretty debillitating and I'm walking around "planet of the apes" style. That or lying flat or taking about 20 ibuprofen to dull the pain.

The woman I see can usualy fix me up in one or two sessions.

Also, one time I had a frozen neck. This sounds pathetic but I must have slepy awkwardly or something because my head seemed to be stuck 90 degrees to the right (seriously). Again she fixed me up after a session ~ although i may have looked a tad odd driving to see her

But I would agree, for spinal stuff okay, but anyone who reckons they can cure say alergies or cancer by back manipulation? Show me the independent, repeated, verifiable trials or don't make the claims.

With apologies I did not spell check the above !!

[Bob Kolker 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

One of the most common back ailments is misalignment of the L4 vertebrae. Chiropractic manipulation can re-align this vertebrae with the surrounding two vertebrae. It is simple Newtonian mechanics. I have had back pain and sciatica related discomfort relieved by this treatment.

There is nothing mysterious going on. It is just mechanical re-alignment.

Bob Kolker

[Carlos 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

One of the most common back ailments is misalignment of the L4 vertebrae. Chiropractic manipulation can re-align this vertebrae with the surrounding two vertebrae. It is simple Newtonian mechanics. I have had back pain and sciatica related discomfort relieved by this treatment.

There is nothing mysterious going on. It is just mechanical re-alignment.

Bob Kolker

Relieving pain is not treatment though; is there any rigorous medical evidence that chiropractic treatment works?

[RayK 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

One of the most common back ailments is misalignment of the L4 vertebrae. Chiropractic manipulation can re-align this vertebrae with the surrounding two vertebrae. It is simple Newtonian mechanics. I have had back pain and sciatica related discomfort relieved by this treatment.

There is nothing mysterious going on. It is just mechanical re-alignment.

Bob Kolker

Relieving pain is not treatment though; is there any rigorous medical evidence that chiropractic treatment works?

None.

[ewv 0]

The title is pretty self-explanatory: what's the truth behind Chiropractors or Chiropractic Treatment?

I've always been pretty skeptical of them personally; however, a Chiropractor is a student at our jiu-jitsu academy and people I know claim he has helped them greatly with problems like slipped-ribs, back-pain, etc.

Input anyone? This is something that I've never been able to get a good answer on...

One of the most common back ailments is misalignment of the L4 vertebrae. Chiropractic manipulation can re-align this vertebrae with the surrounding two vertebrae. It is simple Newtonian mechanics. I have had back pain and sciatica related discomfort relieved by this treatment.

There is nothing mysterious going on. It is just mechanical re-alignment.

Bob Kolker

Relieving pain is not treatment though; is there any rigorous medical evidence that chiropractic treatment works?

It is more than relieving pain. It re-aligns bones whose misalignment causes the pain. But it can't address the underlying cause of the misalignment. A good GP will recommend a competent chiropractor for problems for which it is appropriate. If it can work, even if it takes repeated treatments for relapses, it it is preferable to serious surgery.

[RayK 0]

I could list hundreds of articles that I have read regarding the so called benefits of chiropratic treatment, but I will list just two and offer that those that have a concern to go further and do their own research.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chiro.html

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelate...s/chirosub.html

[Carlos 0]

It is more than relieving pain. It re-aligns bones whose misalignment causes the pain. But it can't address the underlying cause of the misalignment. A good GP will recommend a competent chiropractor for problems for which it is appropriate. If it can work, even if it takes repeated treatments for relapses, it it is preferable to serious surgery.

What does it mean for bones to be "misaligned" and what evidence is there that chiropractors re-align them?

I also just can't take chiropractic seriously because it is so fundamentally based in mysticism, and worse yet, they seek popularity by trying to inspire and exploit a backlash against traditional western medicine.

[Carlos 0]

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelate...s/chirosub.html

This last link really hits at what makes me so wary of chiropractic treatment: that they can't even objectively identify or coherently define what it is that they are treating ("misalignment", "subluxation", etc)

[Cabbie 0]

It is more than relieving pain. It re-aligns bones whose misalignment causes the pain. But it can't address the underlying cause of the misalignment. A good GP will recommend a competent chiropractor for problems for which it is appropriate. If it can work, even if it takes repeated treatments for relapses, it it is preferable to serious surgery.

What does it mean for bones to be "misaligned" and what evidence is there that chiropractors re-align them?

I also just can't take chiropractic seriously because it is so fundamentally based in mysticism, and worse yet, they seek popularity by trying to inspire and exploit a backlash against traditional western medicine.

They take xrays and look at the curvature of your spine. Their methods re-establish it when its been lost due to injury/posture issues and that is visually perceptible.

[Bill Bucko 0]

It is more than relieving pain. It re-aligns bones whose misalignment causes the pain. But it can't address the underlying cause of the misalignment. A good GP will recommend a competent chiropractor for problems for which it is appropriate. If it can work, even if it takes repeated treatments for relapses, it it is preferable to serious surgery.

What does it mean for bones to be "misaligned" and what evidence is there that chiropractors re-align them?

I also just can't take chiropractic seriously because it is so fundamentally based in mysticism, and worse yet, they seek popularity by trying to inspire and exploit a backlash against traditional western medicine.

See the chapter in Martin Gardner's classic Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, which used to be sold by the Objectivist book store in the 1960s.

Based on that (and what I've heard from MDs), it is a pseudo-science. However, many chiropractors appear to have gained some skills in massage that help some patients.

[Bob Kolker 0]

Relieving pain is not treatment though; is there any rigorous medical evidence that chiropractic treatment works?

I walk into the chiropractor feeling pain and I walk out with my pain relieved, sometimes for weeks. That is rigorous enough for me. I am not interested in what works in general. I am interested in what works for me.

Bob Kolker

[rtg24 0]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trick-Treatment-Al...l/dp/0593061292

Another, perhaps more up to date book on alternative medicines. I didn't read it, but attended Singh's lecture in Cambridge, and very much liked his approach, strongly rooted in the scientific method. Popular science, but well written.

[Zeus 0]

It seems like a skilled and knowledgeable manipulation of the bones and nerves can really help you feel better and heal. Too bad there don't seem to be real doctors who do this -- other than massage therapists.

Chiros do some real work and doctoring, I imagine...but are probably endlessly tempted to make stuff up and string patients along -- 'cuz that's how they make 90% of their profit! What a shame for the real sufferers out there...

Extreme caveat emptor, all you chiro users!

[Rose Lake 0]

It seems like a skilled and knowledgeable manipulation of the bones and nerves can really help you feel better and heal. Too bad there don't seem to be real doctors who do this -- other than massage therapists.

Chiros do some real work and doctoring, I imagine...but are probably endlessly tempted to make stuff up and string patients along -- 'cuz that's how they make 90% of their profit! What a shame for the real sufferers out there...

Extreme caveat emptor, all you chiro users!

I have not tried a chiropractor, but waited 2 months to see a popular Physiatrist (an M.D.), whose latest prescription is for acupuncture.