is chiropractic nonsense or decent alternative medicine?

[repressedm]

these are what i see as the possible alternatives:

1. nonsense, any good that people think comes out of it is from the placebo effect or coincidence, correlation rather than causation

2. mostly nonsense on the theoretical level, but massaging and such can be helpful

3. somewhat valid, with some nonsense thrown in, and many bad apples that hurt the reputation of the good ones

 

[Stazy]

Your options are all negatively skewed.

I go to a chiropractor. My bad ankle has improved greatly since seeing him.

 

[repressedm]

ty stazy

i wanted to be harsh on purpose just to hypothesis-test.

 

[gnatty8]

I think I am with 3).

I have been to a few and they have never really done anything for my periodic neck pain.

 

[Milhouse]

Option 4) plenty of valid ones, and I much prefer heading straight to the chiro rather than going through my primary care to try to get a scrip for physical therapy.

My chiro does lots of soft tissue work, which is usually what I need, although I do have a tendency to slip a rib on occasion (really painful). He can get the rib all fixed in no time.

 

[dah328]

Oftentimes, they root of a problem is a musculoskeletal issue involving a weakened or strained muscle of some sort. The "adjustment" provides short-term relief, but absent a direct treatment of the underlying muscular problem, the weakened/strained/pulled muscles will pull the affected joint out of wack again. I think chiropractors are great for when you must have immediate relief from a problem, but PTs are the ones who will generally fix it so you're not back in the chiropractor's office on a weekly basis.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor but have had nearly every kind of sports injury known to modern medicine and have put my PT's three kids through Princeton.

 

[ComboOrgan]

Seems to be based on conjecture and anecdotal evidence rather than actual rigorous science.

I imagine there is some use for chiropractors, but I doubt more than 10% of their "services" are legit.

This opinion is not based on much research, but I have a view of chiropractors as being folks who couldn't get into med school.

 

[Milhouse]

Originally Posted by ComboOrgan

This opinion is not based on much research, but I have a view of chiropractors as being folks who couldn't get into med school.

Do you also feel this way about physical therapists, optometrists, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, paramedics, athletic trainers, radiological technicians, and just about any other allied health professional?

 

[ComboOrgan]

Originally Posted by Milhouse

Do you also feel this way about physical therapists, optometrists, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, paramedics, athletic trainers, radiological technicians, and just about any other allied health professional?
Some of them, but not most. I have been told by many people in the medical profession that nursing is a common profession among those who train to be doctors but just can't quite make it. Obviously, it doesn't apply to all of them (and probably not most even), but it seems logical that some people enter nursing this way. I'd be interested if anyone in the medical profession cared to chime in with any statistics. I don't say this to put down nurses at all. They are absolutely essential and highly skilled. Same goes for PAs. While undoubtedly some of them are not in their career of first choice, I'd guess that many are, and in either case they have chosen a profession that is both legitimate and essential. Most dentists, optometrists, physics therapists, athletic trainers, and radiological techs that I know seem to have entered those professions by choice. I meet a lot of people who are training for these careers because I tutor physics, and most undergraduate degrees in the health sciences require an introductory physics sequence. In fact, the health and biology related majors make up the majority of our tutoring classes. I enjoy talking to them about their careers and goals and such, so my opinions, while not rigorous, are not completely uninformed. Chiropractors, in my mind, seem to be like ODs. I think a portion of them are people who want to be MDs, but can't get into med school. Instead of taking on another career path within the legitimate medical world, they veer off into some sort of pseudo-science based discipline. I hope that presents my view clearly

 

[FLMountainMan]

#2. It's hilarious, both chiropractors I went to spent about a hlf hour discussing in great detail the ways in which my back and neck were screwed up. Showed me x-rays, etc.

Then they gave me the same damn cracking they gave everyone else.

I think the massaging is useful, but most of it's crap.

 

[HORNS]

Originally Posted by ComboOrgan

Some of them, but not most.

I have been told by many people in the medical profession that nursing is a common profession among those who train to be doctors but just can't quite make it. Obviously, it doesn't apply to all of them (and probably not most even), but it seems logical that some people enter nursing this way. I'd be interested if anyone in the medical profession cared to chime in with any statistics.

I don't say this to put down nurses at all. They are absolutely essential and highly skilled.

Same goes for PAs. While undoubtedly some of them are not in their career of first choice, I'd guess that many are, and in either case they have chosen a profession that is both legitimate and essential.

Most dentists, optometrists, physics therapists, athletic trainers, and radiological techs that I know seem to have entered those professions by choice.

I meet a lot of people who are training for these careers because I tutor physics, and most undergraduate degrees in the health sciences require an introductory physics sequence. In fact, the health and biology related majors make up the majority of our tutoring classes. I enjoy talking to them about their careers and goals and such, so my opinions, while not rigorous, are not completely uninformed.

Chiropractors, in my mind, seem to be like ODs. I think a portion of them are people who want to be MDs, but can't get into med school. Instead of taking on another career path within the legitimate medical world, they veer off into some sort of pseudo-science based discipline.

I hope that presents my view clearly


LOL

I think there is definitely a pseudoscience to this profession, and I certainly think they deserve the title of "doctor" while physical therapists have nothing like this.

There was this acquaintance of mine that is a chiropractor, and his explanations of musculoskeletal disorders seemed to be written by L Ron Hubbard.

 

[kwiteaboy]

Meta-analyses have shown that "the concepts of chiropractic are not based on solid science and its therapeutic value has not been demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt" (Ernzt, 2008, J Pain Symptom Management, 35). There is no science whatsoever behind principles of chiropractic and as far as I'm concerned, its practitioners are no different than snake handlers, except maybe more dangerous.

 

[kwiteaboy]

Originally Posted by ComboOrgan

Chiropractors, in my mind, seem to be like ODs. I think a portion of them are people who want to be MDs, but can't get into med school. Instead of taking on another career path within the legitimate medical world, they veer off into some sort of pseudo-science based discipline.

ODs? Optometrists? Or do you mean osteopathic physicians (DOs)?

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by kwiteaboy

Meta-analyses have shown that "the concepts of chiropractic are not based on solid science and its therapeutic value has not been demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt" (Ernzt, 2008, J Pain Symptom Management, 35). There is no science whatsoever behind principles of chiropractic and as far as I'm concerned, its practitioners are no different than snake handlers, except maybe more dangerous.
You can have your ******* "Meta-analyses" give me a good ol' fashioned honest and true blue snake handler any day of the week.

 

[Matt]

hmm...

My chiro is a good friend and occassional client, so I should state that upfront.

My own personal experience mirrors a couple of observations made above...

Originally Posted by dah328

Oftentimes, they root of a problem is a musculoskeletal issue involving a weakened or strained muscle of some sort. The "adjustment" provides short-term relief, but absent a direct treatment of the underlying muscular problem, the weakened/strained/pulled muscles will pull the affected joint out of wack again. I think chiropractors are great for when you must have immediate relief from a problem, but PTs are the ones who will generally fix it so you're not back in the chiropractor's office on a weekly basis.

I'd agree with this. He cracks me around, and then my neck/shoulder appears to work again. The week later (admittedly generally following BJJ class, so I bring it on myself) I am back on the table getting the same cracking. I feel better afterward, but I am far from cured.

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan

#2. It's hilarious, both chiropractors I went to spent about a hlf hour discussing in great detail the ways in which my back and neck were screwed up. Showed me x-rays, etc.

Then they gave me the same damn cracking they gave everyone else.

Ya, I have suspected this too. Go in with a sore neck, he adjusts me the same way that he adjusts me when I have a sore right shoulder. Sore lower back? Crack, same way.

But a couple of other thoughts...first, I do think it is better than being cut open to treat such issues, and as such I file it under 'totally worth a shot' before going under the knife.

Secondly - and I am suuuure that you guys can dissect the statistical validity on this point - and you will probably win....but we did do some call around/straw poll research of past patients of the chiro clinic here. Spoke to about 500 of them, and around 70% reported that the treatment helped their conditions - which is nice to know.