BasicJim

I was wondering if there was a general consensus as to the effectiviness of a chiropractor?

I grew up thinking it was a lot of bull, but am actually considering going for an alignment.

Any good or bad experiences?

TIA,

Jim

late

Pushing something back into line without also strenghtening or repairing it is great for repeat business.

XChosen

chiropratics is awesome, but Late is correct. If your going to go to a chiropractic plan on strengthening the area after you are adjusted. I spent 10 years dealing with back pain. After a few appointments then good core strengthening I'm free of pain.

Blackberry

I went to a chiropractor for severe back pain. He never "pushed anything back into place." He gave me an exercise program--stretching and core conditioning--that got the job done without drugs or surgery. After a few visits, he said, "my work here is done."

Maybe others are quacks, but this guy was good.

SSP

Most are fairly knowledgable regarding aches and sprains, and how they should be treated.

But, their entire theoretical basis for "adjustments" is highly suspect, and never been proven to have any basis in reality.

Most seem reasonably ethical (despite their bogus theoretical basis), and probably do more good than harm. But, there are some highly unethical ones who specialize in spinal manipulations of infants, and long-term "care" that is just a way to drain the wallets of the gullible.

For much more info, look here: https://www.chirobase.org/

tokolosh

over the last 10 years, i've occasionally seen a terrific one who did both - whiplash for me and a strange sports-related injury for my son. his pattern was to adjust whatever-it-was (instant relief) and then get down to cases with the long-term prevention/recovery. mind you, in both cases what sent us in was something that NEEDED instant relief. i wouldn't bother with anything less severe. his philosophy seemed to be 'let's restore the normal range of motion as best we can now, and then work on making sure you get to keep it.'

i suggest looking for one who has a grounding in all the 'traditional' complementary areas of medicine, like kinesiology, sports med, physio . . . theyr'e more likely to take the truly constructive, whole-picture approach. mine didn't see any reason not to free up the immediate problem so we could turn our heads/lift our arms past the shoulder/etc, but he made it clear that the adjusting part was only one small part of the means to a much more comprehensive end. we only see him when there's a need, but when there is one, it works.

zonatandem

There are quacks in the bicycle business, there are quacks in the medical field.
A good chiroprator can work wonders for you; so can a sports med doctor; so can a massage therapist . . . we have choices, we have preferences . . .