 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Might I suggest you research the validity of claims made by/for chiropractic? Good places to start would be "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre and,particularly, "Trick or Treatment?" by Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh.
I used to visit a chiropractor because I used to suffer from chronic upper back pain (my spinae erector (steady..lol) muscles used to spasm and I'd be left walking like Robocop for a week or two). It was very expensive,and I was on a low wage at the time but,anecdotally,that's what you did if you got a bad back.
In hindsight,I can honestly say I noticed no significant improvement over that time.
I haven't had a back problem in about a decade now which coincides with around the time I started surfing regularly,and doing proper,structured physical training.
It was only some time after I finished visiting my chiropractor that I,by chance,became heavily interested in science,its uses and abuses,and crucially,the role and value of evidence.
And this is where chiropractic (and homeopathy,ear candling,reiki,cupping (steady,again..!),etc.,ad nauseum) fall down.
The evidence for their efficacy simply isn't there or is no better than placebo. In some instances (infant chiropractic,herbalism for instance) the potential for greater HARM is real and well-documented.
After all,your back,neck and spine are very delicate,very important bits of your body. I would prefer not to trust that to a practitioner who is not medically trained (chiropractic is NOT a recognized medical technique and if you research the basis of its beliefs about how the body works,you'll likely understand why. "Subluxations" being a misuse of a real medical term. The fun starts there.) and I know I will be told about their training,about their further,recognized qualifications,about how someone's GP recommended one etc. - again,with the greatest respect,everyone knows someone who's grandma smoked and drank and did crack and lived to 200. Anecdotes aren't evidence.
The placebo effect can be quite powerful,of course,and I don't underplay that. That's why so many people 'believe' their chosen alternative therapy works for them. And they need to,because they're usually paying quite a lot of money for it and no-one likes to think they're wasting money..
..but that's rather the point: DON'T waste your money,research these things before you part with any and that means keeping a sceptical mind. And remembering that "anecdote" is NOT the plural of "data". I'm sorry,but it doesn't matter how many people SAY something is true - what's the evidence?
I know I will likely get shot down,chewed up,berated and called things for posting this,particularly since I'm the first one to post a less than positive note about this. But I'm not going to get drawn into hackneyed,recycled arguments about it. I'm addressing the OP primarily,and I do it in the hope that I can save you some money and,potentially,continued pain.
The research is there,the evidence (or lack of) is there - people owe it to themselves to be aware of it.
OP,I realize you've already visited and would have had your consultation and might even have been told you have micro-damage in your musculoskeletal system (everyone has to some extent) and you might be feeling great and positive and refreshed. But,please,look further into this before progressing it.
E |
I recommend this to anyone though 
