A chiropractor performs manipulations. If you believe in bacteria, microbes, and viruses as being causes of diseases (rather than spinal column irregularaties or some such), then chiropracty is not appropriate for a large class of problems. However, it is probably an appropriate *option* for muscle strains and back trouble (or neck trouble) of a variety of type. I treatments were occasionally slightly painful for me, but I was in pain when I started (or was in certain positions). Obviously, if I hadn’t had any complaints, I would not have gone. I got some help. I sort of went out of curiosity. I had been to rolfers before, and wanted to try something different. The “cracking” that the chirpractors do is rather unnerving, but didn’t hurt.
The Consumer Reports had a series of articles about chiropractic a few years ago. They were not very complimentary. Rolfing (developed by the late Ida Rolf) is a bodywork procedure which attempts to realign the body. The approach is to apply a moderately painful pressure using elbows, hands, or fingertips as appropriate. The fascia (a sheath which covers the muscles and gives the body its shape) is stretched by this process and in general the body regains its natural shape.
The two procedures are quite different. The Rolfing school of thought is that when there is a structural misalignment, the tissue and bone are used to a certain position. If you move the bone without doing something with the surrounding tissue, the bone will gradually move back to where it was, since that is where the tissue is expecting it.
I got Rolfed in l975 because of pinched nerve in my neck. I had gone to an orthopedist and he had prescribed an anti-inflammatory and physical therapy. When I was in traction, I felt fine, but as soon as the pull released, I hurt again. I reasoned that if Rolfing could let my neck pop up a little, I would feel OK. That is what happened.
People who get Rolfed usually have some recall of buried psychological material. Also, they will be emotionally much looser afterwards. The principal drawback is cost. The normal arrangement is 10 sessions each about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, $75 a throw (LA rates). They may be a little higher now (1984 — inflation). I would recommend looking at the before/after pictures in Ida Rolf’s book. You can see the improvement in how those people are standing.
There is a similar procedure to Rolfing called Heller work. I cannot comment except to say that my understanding is that it is essentially the same concept. There may be a slight difference in philosophy. Rolfing was the most powerful thing that I have ever done, at least in a human potential movement sense. The psychological material just flew up at me, and I had a terrible time dealing with it. I used to go to Rolfing on Monday, and psychotherapy on Wednesday. My therapy was and has been much more effective since getting Rolfed.
I’ve been rambling. One last item: The benefits of Rolfing are likely to last for some time. It is a situation similar to the Reichiann (sp?) body armor stuff. Whatever the situations which caused us to armor ourselves, we are probably better able to cope with that as an adult, or the situation may no longer exist (sibling rivalry, abusive parents, what have you).
As per usual, your redirect to chiro base, does not work without manipulation, then you find it is our old friend Stephen Barrett, not a real chiropractor talking about chiropractic, but one of the worlds most famous anti everything natural or non medical society approved hate mongers. It is a bit reminicent of the old meeting of the national medical convention in which one of the national presidents said that it was better to die under orthodox medical care than to get well under alternative care. Doc, all docs are indeed docs when so licensed or degreed, and deserve to be called doctors, including DCs, NDs, PhDs , DOs, ODs, DPMs, and MDs and the list goes on.
Chiropractors will “treat” anything for which they can get paid. True story: my mother was seeing a chiropractor for a back problem. One day she called to to cancel her appointment. The receptionist asked why so she lied & said she had diarrhea. The receptionist said hold on a minute. After a few minutes she got back on the phone & said “The doctor says the manipulation will take care of that too.” I still laugh about that. I guess when they find that bone & shove it the right way we won’t need Kaopectate anymore. My mother eventually had back surgery, saw a physical therapist for a while afterwards and her back has been great ever since (about 5 years now). I read a front page article in the Wall Street Journal about three or four years ago that was about how aggressive chiropractors were getting in “practice development” – what we call “drumming up business” in the business world. The WSJ reported that many – not all but many – chiropractors were telling people they should have a chiropractor as their primary care physician. AND that their children don’t need immunizations, kids just need spinal manipulations. I had an aunt, about 70 years old that went to a chiropractor against her MD’s advice. The chiropractor broke three of her ribs during the treatment. Now I’m not trying to knock chiropractors. I think some of them probably recognize the limitations of what they can do. And they probably can give a very nice relaxing massage. BUT THEY ARE NOT medical doctors! Anyone with a medical condition should go to a physician, orthopedist, or physical therapist if they really want to get well.
A number of people have provided testimonials for the efficacy of their chiropractors, and I’d like to ask them what conditions they have which are being treated successfully by chiropractic, and what treatments are employed.
Neurological disorganization is simple defined as uncoordinated nerve signaling cause by nerve receptors sending conflicting information for interpretation to the brain. This can effect a child coordination or”learning ability. It may occasionally effect both, but usually one predominates. Neurological disorganization is corrected by Neurolymphatic and cranio-sacral therapies, usually performed by chiropractors and ocassionally by osteopaths and MD’s. In many cases of ADD this is all thats required to acheive correction.
There were good articles on chiropractic in “The Skeptical Inquirer” and “Consumer Reports” several years back. Frankly, I think it is frightening that many people have chiropractors as their primary care-givers. Many chiropractors are people who never would have made it into medical school, let alone make it through medical training. The notion that spinal adjustments are needed to improve or maintain health is unproven and highly doubtful. In the first place, “cracking” the back does not realign vertebrae. The stretching effect certainly can relieve back pain, but chiropractors should be open and admit they are not “adjusting” the spine.