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Chiropractic controversy and criticism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Throughout its history chiropractic has been the subject of internal and external controversy and criticism.[1][2] According to magnetic healer Daniel D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, "vertebral subluxation" was the sole cause of all diseases and manipulation was the cure for all diseases of the human race.[3] A 2003 profession-wide survey found "most chiropractors (whether "straights" or "mixers") still hold views of Innate and of the cause and cure of disease (not just back pain) consistent with those of the Palmers."[4] A critical evaluation stated "Chiropractic is rooted in mystical concepts. This led to an internal conflict within the chiropractic profession, which continues today."[3] Chiropractors, including D.D. Palmer, were jailed for practicing medicine without a license.[3] D.D. Palmer considered establishing chiropractic as a religion to resolve this problem.[5] For most of its existence, chiropractic has battled with mainstream medicine, sustained by antiscientific and pseudoscientific ideas such as subluxation.[6] Chiropractic has been controversial, though to a lesser extent than in past years.[7]
Chiropractic researchers have documented that fraud, abuse and quackery are more prevalent in chiropractic than in other health care professions.[8] Unsubstantiated claims about the efficacy of chiropractic have continued to be made by individual chiropractors and chiropractic associations.[3] The core concept of traditional chiropractic, vertebral subluxation, is not based on sound science.[3] Collectively, systematic reviews have not demonstrated that spinal manipulation, the main treatment method employed by chiropractors, was effective for any medical condition, with the possible exception of treatment for back pain.[3] Although rare,[9] spinal manipulation, particularly of the upper spine, can also result in complications that can lead to permanent disability or death; these can occur in adults[10] and children.[11]
In 2008, Simon Singh was sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for criticizing their activities in a column in The Guardian.[12] A preliminary hearing took place at the Royal Courts of Justice in front of judge David Eady. The judge held that merely using the phrase "happily promotes bogus treatments" meant that he was stating, as a matter of fact, that the British Chiropractic Association was being consciously dishonest in promoting chiropractic for treating the children's ailments in question.[13] An editorial in Nature has suggested that the BCA may be trying to suppress debate and that this use of British libel law is a burden on the right to freedom of expression, which is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.[14] The libel case ended with the BCA withdrawing its suit in 2010.[15][16]
Chiropractors historically were strongly opposed to vaccination based on their belief that all diseases were traceable to causes in the spine, and therefore could not be affected by vaccines.[17] Some chiropractors continue to be opposed to vaccination.[18] Early opposition to water fluoridation included chiropractors in the U.S. Some chiropractors opposed water fluoridation as being incompatible with chiropractic philosophy and an infringement of personal freedom. Recently, other chiropractors have actively promoted fluoridation, and several chiropractic organizations have endorsed scientific principles of public health.
d-usa wrote: "When the Internet sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending posters that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing strawmen. They're bringing spam. They're trolls. And some, I assume, are good people."
Nevermind, I see now that you are answering the Subject line question.
Sorry, I supposed I should have clarified that.
d-usa wrote: "When the Internet sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending posters that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing strawmen. They're bringing spam. They're trolls. And some, I assume, are good people."
jasper76 wrote: Does it have any value for short term pain relief, like massage does?
If it does, it'd be through the placebo effect. If you are off your rocker to go to a chiropractor, be aware of the risks (blood clots, stroke, etc, etc)
If the thought of something makes me giggle for longer than 15 seconds, I am to assume that I am not allowed to do it. item 87, skippys list
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jasper76 wrote: Does it have any value for short term pain relief, like massage does?
If it does, it'd be through the placebo effect. If you are off your rocker to go to a chiropractor, be aware of the risks (blood clots, stroke, etc, etc)
Well, my situation is that I have insurance that covers both massage and chiropractic, and the best masseuse in town, so my workmates say, works at a chiropractic office. I have the same insurance copay for a visit that is massage, chiropractic, or chiropractic + massage. I don't have to do the chiropractic bit to get the massages covered, but as you might expect they give you a sales pitch to encourage you to do both.
jasper76 wrote: Well, my situation is that I have insurance that covers both massage and chiropractic, and the best masseuse in town, so my workmates say, works at a chiropractic office. I have the same insurance copay for a visit that is massage, chiropractic, or chiropractic + massage. I don't have to do the chiropractic bit to get the massages covered, but as you might expect they give you a sales pitch to encourage you to do both.
I sympathise as my Mrs has a problem will bulging discs so I can understand that you've probably suffering for a while. I'm not medically qualified so can't really advise you on the best course to take. If it were me, I'd run a mile from the Chiropractor and just take the massage!
For me, massage will be be much less riskier, it'll be relaxing and would make me feel good. Bonus points if said masseuse is hot
Matthew wrote:Have you ever heard the term 'placebo'? As longa s it 'helps', it's useful. Like homepathy!
Ah yes, Homeopathy. It reminds me of this:
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/09/25 20:21:59
It has legitimate uses, but also a mountain of pseudo-scientific BS that some people sometimes get scammed into pay for. That's my understanding anyway.
For me, massage will be be much less riskier, it'll be relaxing and would make me feel good. Bonus points if said masseuse is hot
I'll take a strong masseuse over a hot one any day. First thing I look at is the arms.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordofHats wrote: It has legitimate uses, but also a mountain of pseudo-scientific BS that some people sometimes get scammed into pay for. That's my understanding anyway.
My BS detector went off at the office, because they anti-flu vaccination propaganda framed on the wall.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/09/25 20:28:43
It is the study of:
"Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches."
What few discussions I have had with those who practice it, some logical mechanical arguments can be made.
Things that are out of position, manipulation to push back into position, observations of the effect of bad posture or over-stressing elements of the body.
They tended to be the "Mixer" type of practitioner (incorporates more traditional medicine).
I figure involving them is a rather limited and special case circumstance: bad lifestyle or some "trauma" to the body would be more applicable.
I have some doubts I would involve them for fixing my headaches but neck strain would be very likely.
I am EXTREMELY hesitant of their favored "spine manipulation".
I am tempted to say it is not legitimate but if I was having no success with traditional methods I would try it (which I had with varying results), possibly even acupuncture if desperate enough.
A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
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@zedmesiter: Just muscle knots, and a bit of dull pain around the neck. Certainly uncomfortable but nothing debilitating. I'm basically just a dude with a sore back who likes massages, not someone with severe pain.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/09/25 20:47:17
jasper76 wrote: Does it have any value for short term pain relief, like massage does?
If it does, it'd be through the placebo effect. If you are off your rocker to go to a chiropractor, be aware of the risks (blood clots, stroke, etc, etc)
Well, my situation is that I have insurance that covers both massage and chiropractic, and the best masseuse in town, so my workmates say, works at a chiropractic office. I have the same insurance copay for a visit that is massage, chiropractic, or chiropractic + massage. I don't have to do the chiropractic bit to get the massages covered, but as you might expect they give you a sales pitch to encourage you to do both.
If your insurance covers it, why not give it a shot? My brother got in a motorcycle accident that bothered his sciatic nerve for a long time, and a couple trips fixed it right up.
It's not really expensive, invasive, or dangerous. It won't cure cancer, but like massages, it can be relieving / relaxing. And if you don't like it, don't go back.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/09/25 20:41:31
"Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment." Words to live by.
Wales: Where the Men are Men and the sheep are Scared.
No chiropractic is not supported by science. Massage however does have science on its side (for certain things but not many of the things some practitioners claim). Get the massage but skip the back cracking.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/09/25 21:05:27
It depends on what the intended use is. If it's for adjusting your spine for back pain, then "it might work, maybe." If it's for anything else, no - and this field more than near any I can think of swiftly devolves into quackery.
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I've always been a bit puzzled about people calling it quackery, if you feel that's it's BS have you ever personally been to a chiropractor due to pain?
I had a pretty severe lower back injury that resulted in a compressed disc and it would end up in one of my nerves being pinched from time to time where I literally could not move my leg due to the interruption of the nerve signals and it was incredibly painful when it'd occur. One of our family friends was a chiropractor and while i was bit hesitant at first I went and the results of the adjustments were very effective at relieving the pain and it'd release the pressure on that nerve. Often when my back was locked up I'd be limping so severely that I needed help getting in the door and within minutes of getting the adjustment I'd be able to walk almost completely normal again. When it popped my back it was very intense as it was a sudden rush of sensation, I'd see stars quite frequently and it'd be quite sore for a few days but it was far preferable to the stabbing pain in my spine and my left leg being completely numb and unresponsive.
Now my experience may be different as he was a guy who was only concerned with helping people out of pain and didn't have all sorts of BS "plans" that suggested weekly adjustments or taking x many times before you were balanced etc. Sometimes when it was really bad I might have to go in two or three times over the course of a week before the pain let up but once it did I'd be fine for several months until I did something or moved the wrong way which would cause the nerve to pinch again. I'd seen a regular Dr about my back as well and both had taken xrays and confirmed the same issue with the compressed disc. The only solution that the standard Dr said was that I'd need surgery to fix the vertebrae by fusing it with a plate which may not end the pain and I'd likely be on pain killers pretty much permanently and it would have run tens of thousands of dollars. My Chiropractor was able to correct that issues at least on a short term basis and was incredibly cheap, he charged about $30 a visit and I was in there maybe about 10 times over the course of a year, keeping in mind my back injury was quite bad.
After the first year it tapered off quite a bit as the muscles were able to strengthen themselves and I'd been doing a set of stretching and exercises that he'd recommended in order to build them back up. I only went when I was completely locked up to the point where I was having a lot of difficulty moving. But that happened much less frequently as things were healing. After about three years I replaced my bed with a good quality tempurpedic memory foam bed which was incredible as it'd completely relieve the pressure while I was sleeping. Between that and my lower back muscles healing I haven't had any major pain in my lower back in about 5 years. It's been sore here and there but nothing crippling like it was before. Nowdays I go in for an adjustment maybe once or twice a year but it's more for tension in my upper back usually as a result of shoveling snow or doing some other heavy work and causing it to tweak.
In my experience it works quite well, but I've heard horror stories about places that charge all sorts of insane fees and have plans and all sorts of pseudo science claims. I know that when he'd do adjustment it was a very real thing because I could feel the physical change instantly, along with a huge rush of tension and a bit of pain but it was also incredible feeling. Sort of like cracking your knuckles or your neck but a thousand times stronger. There were times I'd get a head rush and almost borderline passed out from it but within 5 minutes I was pretty much fully mobile again even if I was still a bit sore for a few days.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/09/25 21:36:48
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The question at hand here is how you define "medicine"....
If you are asking whether or not there are clinically significant positive results from chiropractic, in at least some cases, then the answer is "yes."
You don't go to a chiropractor to cure your cancer, you go to them because your back hurts and you don't feel like being doped up on opiates constantly.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/09/25 21:39:17
From my experiences I would classify it more as therapy, or rehabilitation as that best describes what I used it for as I was recovering from an injury.
"Medicine" is a pretty broad term and can refer to virtually anything that can be used to improve the body or well being.
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The legitimacy of it depends on what you are trying to do with it. Some of the basic principles can work, but "fix everything by fixing your bones" isn't a thing. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "medicine", but having any part of your body out of whack can influence other parts and if you are not feeling well you can actually "make" yourself not be healthy.
I think in the grand scheme of things I think that Osteopathy would be the way to go if you are interested in having the best of both worlds between "traditional" medicine and chiropractic.
Can it cure absolutely everything wrong with you ever possible? No.
Can it be used to address a specific range of medical issues? Yes.
is it appropriate for all medical issues? No.
That pretty much sums it up. It varies widely by practitioner. If you're going for back issues or posture issues or something like that, it can be very helpful. If the practitioner is talking about adjusting your spine to fix some unrelated medical issue, then it's probably quackery.
I have pretty flat feet. I went to a chiropractor and he set me up with some custom orthotic inserts that were incredibly helpful. When those started to wear out, I went to a physical therapist who specialized in orthotics and prosthesis and he gave me a new set of custom orthotics as well. I would have gone back to the chiropractor except I was living in a different place at the time. The orthotics I got from the chiropractor were just as legit as the ones I got from the physical therapist.
So I will say that some chiropractors are probably quacks, but there are also some that you can get legitimate help and treatment from. It just depends on what you need and what they are trying to fix.
Simple answer - no, chiropractic is an alternative medicine.
To quote Tim Minchin:
“You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.”
Before you discard everything that isn't modern medicine, please recall that these are all things that were at one time very much endorsed by modern medicine. What will our children look back at in horror at our barbaric ways?
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