Spinal Manipulation May Be Useless - or Worse

[IGBT]

Text

Healthy young people had a sixfold extra risk of a neurological problem within 30 days of neck manipulation, possibly caused by a tearing of an artery leading to the brain.

Having your back "cracked" to ease pain and other problems is a waste of time and money, claims one of Britain's leading experts in complementary medicine.
Professor Edzard Ernst claims spinal manipulation used by chiropractors and osteopaths does not work for any medical condition.

And in some cases, he said, it can make the problem worse.

The study claims the practice can cause minor adverse effects such as pain and headaches. More serious complications are rare, but could include strokes.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Worked great for me so he can STFU.

 

[CKent]

This is common medical practice? For treatment of what?

 

[kogase]

I just watched the Bullsh*t episode on this stuff. The power of suggestion is a powerful thing (see MmmSkyscraper).

 

[torpid]

What, you mean they can't just shove a herneated disc right back into place using a wooden plank and solve the problem?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Worked great for me so he can STFU.

Quack quack quack!

 

[daniel1113]

Yep. Scheduling spinal manipulations at even intervals with no medical problems to diagnose has never been particularly healthy. Of course, it is a different story for people with serious spinal/neck problems.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Worked great for me so he can STFU.

Yup a chiropractor alievated the pain I had in my neck and upper back after getting in a car accident a few years ago.

 

[fitzov]

This is just more anti-chiropractor bs. Sure, they want you to let them cut into your back with knives. I'll bet that has no risks whatsoever.

 

[Amused]

I've been trying to tell people for years that chiropractors are, by and large, quacks.

I had a good laugh when I recently pulled a muscle in my lower back with all the recommendations to go see a quack. WTF can he do for a pulled muscle? Nothing, of course, except take my money and offer me a truck load of quack advice.

Chiropractors are very close to a cult. Just look at how insulted people get when you expose their quackery.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Amused
I've been trying to tell people for years that chiropractors are, by and large, quacks.

I had a good laugh when I recently pulled a muscle in my lower back with all the recommendations to go see a quack. WTF can he do for a pulled muscle? Nothing, of course, except take my money and offer me a truck load of quack advice.

Chiropractors are very close to a cult. Just look at how insulted people get when you expose their quackery.

..Back Quacks they are. Nothing more then a white coat grift wit a back table and full body x-rays.

 

[MotionMan]

I crack my own back (and neck and finger knuckles and toe knuckles and ankles and knees...) You should see me get ready to shoot a free throw!

As for Chiropractors, I have had to deal with many of them professionally (I'm a lawyer). Most of the ones I had to deal with may not have been quacks (I have no hard evidence of quackery), but they certainly were crooks.

MotionMan

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I crack my own back (and neck and finger knuckles and toe knuckles and ankles and knees...) You should see me get ready to shoot a free throw!

As for Chiropractors, I have had to deal with many of them professionally (I'm a lawyer). Most of the ones I had to deal with may not have been quacks (I have no hard evidence of quackery), but they certainly were crooks.

MotionMan

Is that really surprising? Do you think a lawyer would really interact with a chiropractor unless potential crookery were involved?

 

[Amused]

Good links that expose the wonder that is Chiropractic Quackery:

http://www.quackwatch.org/
http://www.chirobase.org/

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I crack my own back (and neck and finger knuckles and toe knuckles and ankles and knees...) You should see me get ready to shoot a free throw!

As for Chiropractors, I have had to deal with many of them professionally (I'm a lawyer). Most of the ones I had to deal with may not have been quacks (I have no hard evidence of quackery), but they certainly were crooks.

MotionMan

..ya think it's something left over from the "old west"days when most medical services were dispensed from the Barber Shop?? The old Barber poles was indication that medical services were avail.at a barber shop.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Amused
I've been trying to tell people for years that chiropractors are, by and large, quacks.

I had a good laugh when I recently pulled a muscle in my lower back with all the recommendations to go see a quack. WTF can he do for a pulled muscle? Nothing, of course, except take my money and offer me a truck load of quack advice.

Chiropractors are very close to a cult. Just look at how insulted people get when you expose their quackery.

ah, my brother. After all of these years, I have finally found something you stated that I don't agree with.

I have several problem areas in my back and when you see an x-ray of your hips showing one raised higher than the other, there is only one solution - spinal manipulation. The muscles in your back will strengthen over time to keep your spine displaced - making it difficult to walk and impossible to bend over. It can get to the point that ribs have slid to cause pain in rib muscles and restrict breathing. Only through chiropractic work can it be adjusted properly and back to normal posture. I have spent enough time and energy to understand the pros and cons of chiropractic care and there is no doubt in my mind that it is not foolish quackery, but necessary and proper in my case. I will never stop.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: MotionMan
I crack my own back (and neck and finger knuckles and toe knuckles and ankles and knees...) You should see me get ready to shoot a free throw!

As for Chiropractors, I have had to deal with many of them professionally (I'm a lawyer). Most of the ones I had to deal with may not have been quacks (I have no hard evidence of quackery), but they certainly were crooks.

MotionMan

Is that really surprising? Do you think a lawyer would really interact with a chiropractor unless potential crookery were involved?

I included the Chiropractors on my side!!!

MotionMan

 

[desy]

I've had wonderful results from chiropractic
WHEN I NEEDED IT, not to cure allergies or snoring or other wierd maladies some 'claim' They serve a real purpose and when I combine it with massage it works 100X better than 'doctors' who just push the latest anti-inflamitory on you and say take it easy for a while.:disgust:

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Amused
I've been trying to tell people for years that chiropractors are, by and large, quacks.

I had a good laugh when I recently pulled a muscle in my lower back with all the recommendations to go see a quack. WTF can he do for a pulled muscle? Nothing, of course, except take my money and offer me a truck load of quack advice.

Chiropractors are very close to a cult. Just look at how insulted people get when you expose their quackery.

I'm not insulted by your claims at all. All I have is my own experience. I recently hurt my lower back (beginning of February 2006) and after seeing a chiropracter for three weeks was able to fully recover. Didn't cost me anything but the co-pay ($20/visit) and I feel it was well worth it. I got an xray done which showed a narrowing of one of my vertebrae where the nerves exit to the side. After a couple of treatments to relax the tightened muscles (about 1 weeks worth), he cracked my back on subsequent visits.

While I probably can't do anything to change your mind since you already have an agenda to discount the chiropractic profession, anyone else who may be following your "advice" would be well-advised to do their own research. It's not like ATOT is the best place for medical adivice anyways.

 

[Jeraden]

I actually hurt my upper back/shoulder area a couple months ago. I was thinking of seeing a chiro initially, but didn't. After 2 months it still kind of hurt so I decided to finally see a doctor. He was very anti-chiropracter. He said they make you feel better right afterwards, but thats because all their work just results in numbing down of the nerve endings due to over-stimulation. So the pain is temporarily gone, but as soon as the nerves recover the pain is right back. Don't know if there's much truth to it, just saying what he told me.
Of course all he did was give me a prescription for anti-inflamatories and sent me on my way, lol, so not sure if that was any better. That was 2 weeks ago and it still hurts.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
I actually hurt my upper back/shoulder area a couple months ago. I was thinking of seeing a chiro initially, but didn't. After 2 months it still kind of hurt so I decided to finally see a doctor. He was very anti-chiropracter. He said they make you feel better right afterwards, but thats because all their work just results in numbing down of the nerve endings due to over-stimulation. So the pain is temporarily gone, but as soon as the nerves recover the pain is right back. Don't know if there's much truth to it, just saying what he told me.
Of course all he did was give me a prescription for anti-inflamatories and sent me on my way, lol, so not sure if that was any better. That was 2 weeks ago and it still hurts.

that's hilarious. doctor "don't go to a chiropractor, they never treat the cause only the symptoms. sure they will reduce the pain, but it's only temporary. here, take these inflammatories and call me in the morning."

it's hilarious when they do stupid stuff like that.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Worked great for me so he can STFU.

repeat after me: placebo effect.

 

[Hav0k99]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
I actually hurt my upper back/shoulder area a couple months ago. I was thinking of seeing a chiro initially, but didn't. After 2 months it still kind of hurt so I decided to finally see a doctor. He was very anti-chiropracter. He said they make you feel better right afterwards, but thats because all their work just results in numbing down of the nerve endings due to over-stimulation. So the pain is temporarily gone, but as soon as the nerves recover the pain is right back. Don't know if there's much truth to it, just saying what he told me.
Of course all he did was give me a prescription for anti-inflamatories and sent me on my way, lol, so not sure if that was any better. That was 2 weeks ago and it still hurts.

Exactly!!

I saw a great chiro who massaged after the adjustment then recommended me some physical rehab techniques to do at home.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Worked great for me so he can STFU.

repeat after me: placebo effect.

adjusting the passageway of your nerves is not a placebo effect.

 

[DrPizza]

Perhaps some of you don't realize that there are two different groups under the term chiropractic care...

One group believes that all illnesses are due to things being out of alignment, etc. That group = quacks.

The other group simply puts things back the way they're supposed to be. While I see some of you claiming "placebo effect" - sure, I'll buy that argument some of the time. But, why would you insist the "placebo effect" is the cause for other benefits, such as an increase in the range of motion?

And, for the placebo effect to work, doesn't the person have to believe that the treatment is going to help? I went to a chiropractor for chronic neck pain and headaches. (I was rear-ended in 2 different car accidents that were probably the cause) At that time, I thought they were complete quacks, but figured that since insurance would cover the costs, why not give it a try. I've been largely headache free since those 2 or 3 visits. My wife, who would massage my neck, has noticed that a bulge at the top of my neck is gone (I had grown so used to it being there that I thought it was a normal part of the spine or something... it was a small muscle that was in a tight ball)

A couple of years later, I went to the same guy for back pain, figuring "what the heck." He did nothing for it. In his words, "I'm pretty certain it's just muscular, not skeletal. But, I aligned your right hip for you."