# A "chiropractic neurologist" addresed our Rotary Club - Is this discipline for real? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2015, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345 "2015-06-12T10:24:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/1 "2015-06-12T10:24:12Z")
A very charismatic and pleasant man was invited (by one of the members who is a chiropractic patient of his) to address our Rotary club this evening. He is a “chiropractic neurologist” and was careful to specify that he is not a medical doctor … but … he does treat people with neurological problems, most often after they have gone through the gauntlet of traditional medicine and have found no relief. He pointed out that one benefit of this is that by the time the patients come to him they are at the exit gate for what traditional medicine can do for them and most of the intensive testing is already done and available to him. The main detector of neurological problems is (in his practice) both body and eye movements while doing various diagnostic exercises. The treatment is various exercises but he did not get specific on this part of the therapy. He indicated he treated (not cured) MS and PTSD patients and their neurological functioning become better and more “balanced”. He went on about brain structures, where damage occurs in athletes and accident victims and all the problems this causes that he treats. we had two retired medical doctors (who are members of the club and in their 70’s) in the audience and they were eating it up. He ended up basically encouraging everyone to do rhythmic exercise like dancing or Tai Chi and do memory exercises as there were the most effective exercises at maintaining healthy brain/body neurological functioning. Is this stuff for real? He’s (seemingly) basically treating serious neurological dysfunctions with various exercise therapies. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/2 "2015-06-12T11:15:25Z")
Dancing cured my MS? I think you know the answer. It’s true that some conditions just don’t respond or cannot respond to treatment at the present time so giving these folk harmless alternatives is not unreasonable on the face of it. Unfortunately, this usually involves a significant transfer of wealth from ill, often desperate people, into the pockets of crooked shitehawks such as the charismatic, pleasant man you saw speak. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/3 "2015-06-12T11:46:18Z")
You say two retired doctors in the audience were eating it up. In what sense, buying into it or readying it as ammo in a critique? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/4 "2015-06-12T12:03:00Z")
I occasionally drink some beers with a dude who is a chiropractor. He is depressed over the fact that he cannot be profitable in practice without dabbling in some related woo, which his clientele loves. He has a small vitamin/nutraceutical/homeopathic remedy display which he _knows_ is crap, but is highly profitable. I really feel for him. He wants to treat back pain and is good at it, but he has people who want him to cure their various ailments. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/5 "2015-06-12T12:20:05Z")
It’s not for real. Chiro is woo, and thus chiro subspecialties like chiro neurology and chiro immunology are more woo. ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/6 "2015-06-12T12:30:10Z")
Is a chiropractor for real?? :rolleyes: I have a friend from high school who is a chiropractor like his dad, a really smart guy, but… - Did they ALWAYS KNOW it’s a scam and way to make good money without seriously endangering their patients? - Did they get into chiro to help people with some unknown weird science and NOW know it’s a scam but they can’t afford to get out? - Are they now true believers that have drank the Koolaid? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/7 "2015-06-12T12:35:55Z")
To be fair, telling people to do regular low-impact cardio-friendly exercise as well as memory and other mentally-stimulating activities is good advice, particularly for the elderly and those who due to illness tend towards the sedentary. But it’s not going to cure your MS. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/8 "2015-06-12T13:15:27Z")
At least this guy was upfront about being a chiropractor. Other “specialists” like this tend to conceal their background. For instance, one of our local chiros advertises extensively in the newspaper about his supposed expertise in treating obesity, diabetes etc. You have to hunt really hard through his giant ads to find any indication that he’s a chiro. Depressing note from hospital tumor conference - we had a case presented of a young man with back pain who went to a chiropractor and deteriorated despite chiro ministrations. When he made it to the hospital, it was found that he had multiple bone lesions which turned out to be metastatic tumor. There are drugs (including those targeting specific tumor mutations) that successfully treat his particular disease, at least for a time. But maybe what he really needs is dance therapy. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/9 "2015-06-12T13:28:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I occasionally drink some beers with a dude who is a chiropractor. He is depressed over the fact that he cannot be profitable in practice without dabbling in some related woo, which his clientele loves. He has a small vitamin/nutraceutical/homeopathic remedy display which he _knows_ is crap, but is highly profitable. > > I really feel for him. He wants to treat back pain and is good at it, but he has people who want him to cure their various ailments. Homeopathic vitamins-that sounds good to me-what are they, sugar pills or distilled water? Amazes me what kind of rubbish people will believe in. You feel sorry for a scam artist? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/10 "2015-06-12T13:39:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > For instance, one of our local chiros advertises extensively in the newspaper about his supposed expertise in treating obesity, diabetes etc. You have to hunt really hard through his giant ads to find any indication that he’s a chiro. There’s a guy named Dan Yacker who advertises a weight loss program on the radio locally. In the ads he refers to himself as “Dr. Dan Yacker.” However, from prior versions of the ad I know he’s a DC. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/11 "2015-06-12T14:29:17Z")
There are a limited number of things for which chiro can be as good as the other options. Usually, the other options are not all that hot either. If your problem is that you need your spine manipulated then a chiropractor can help. If your problem is asthma, diabetes, ringworm, or any thing other than needing your spine manipulated, then a chiropractor not the place to go. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/12 "2015-06-12T14:33:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There’s a guy named Dan Yacker who advertises a weight loss program on the radio locally. In the ads he refers to himself as “Dr. Dan Yacker.” However, from prior versions of the ad I know he’s a DC. :rolleyes: Does his program involve eating right and exercising? I have thought many times about advertising a weight loss system along those lines. Like those Depression era ads for a 100% effective bug killer–they sent you two small wooden blocks to squish bugs between. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/13 "2015-06-12T15:22:35Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It’s not for real. Chiro is woo, and thus chiro subspecialties like chiro neurology and chiro immunology are more woo. I have seen in my law practice a wide spectrum of chiropractic practitioners. Some, (many), appear to be just quacks. Others, especially in Oregon (for some reason) seem to be quite respected and respectable. I have had MDs refer patients for chiropractic care, including to specialties like radiology and neurology. Certainly neuro-exercising is a recognized treatment for MTBI, and is used by neuropsychologists. I could see some potential for alternative treatments for things like MS. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/14 "2015-06-12T16:02:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Homeopathic vitamins-that sounds good to me-what are they, sugar pills or distilled water? Amazes me what kind of rubbish people will believe in. You feel sorry for a scam artist? I feel sorry for a drinking buddy who has watched his profession deteriorate over time. Never been to a chiro myself, nor would I ever. ETA: he has a display and sells vitamins, nutraceuticals, and homeopathic remedies (water). Three seperate categories. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/15 "2015-06-12T16:11:46Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I have seen in my law practice a wide spectrum of chiropractic practitioners. Some, (many), appear to be just quacks. Others, especially in Oregon (for some reason) seem to be quite respected and respectable. I have had MDs refer patients for chiropractic care, including to specialties like radiology and neurology. Certainly neuro-exercising is a recognized treatment for MTBI, and is used by neuropsychologists. I could see some potential for alternative treatments for things like MS. The fundamental premise of chiropracty, upon which their ‘science’ and treatment philosophy is based is that of subluxations in the spine cause all disease, and adjustments of the spine hence cure and even prevent disease. This principle is invalid. Yet it’s still the basis for chiropractic education and training. Some chiropractors recognize this lack of validity to their ‘science’ and focus on the few techniques they do know which have some evidence of being somewhat useful; manipulation of the back for musculo-skeletal pain. They also may embrace other valid practices such as ultrasound therapies, TENS units, and other things already used by bona fide physical therapists, physiatrists, and other rehab specialists. Their use of proven therapies from mainstream medicine does not validate their core premise in any way. I once shared an office with a chiro. He entered the profession to help people, and only then discovered the principles he’d been taught were unfounded in actual science. So he focused on ‘scientific chiropracty’ which only employed techniques demonstrated to be of benefit (which made him many enemies in the chiropractic community at large). He was quite regretful he’d ever entered the profession, because the patients that came to him frequently wanted ‘the woo’ and went elsewhere when he didn’t supply it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/16 "2015-06-12T16:17:35Z")
It’s part of a general trend in the blurring of traditional lines. I’m only a few credits away from earning my online degree in psychological proctology. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/17 "2015-06-12T16:19:38Z")
Rationalwiki is often a good first stop. [_Redirected from “Chiropractic Neurology.”_](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Chiropractic_neurology) and… [Scientifically established efficacy.](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Chiropractic_neurology#Scientifically_established_efficacy) ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/18 "2015-06-12T16:26:44Z")
Uh, apparently one of those guys is who Glenn Beck claimed got his mind in order or something. On FB I asked, “Does that mean his bone of contention has been set right?” Do _you_ believe it? I sure don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/19 "2015-06-12T16:28:18Z")
I have always had it in for chiro - they are divided into quacks who know they are quacks and work every angle to strip money from patients and insurance, well-meaning sorts who can’t come to terms with fact that they’ve committed to a woo career, and those who are really, really full to the brim with kool-aid and believe in their hearts that “subluxations” cause all bodily ill. At that, I’d set aside my spears for the crowd that pushes things like horseback riding as autism therapy. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345/20 "2015-06-12T16:45:04Z")
Why, though? Woo or true, what does it have to do with traffic circles? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chiropractic-neurologist-addresed-our-rotary-club-is-this-discipline-for-real/722345.md?page=2)