# Is Chiropractic pure woo? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2012, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498 "2012-12-09T08:05:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/81 "2012-12-10T07:33:31Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Hey, it’s like, probably some of it is not quite scientifically based, but some of it is probably stuff that the mainstream, western doctors just don’t want to admit works, because it’ll cut into their profits, or something. D.D. Palmer formulated this in Iowa, so I guess it was the western doctors in Colorado that were protecting their profits. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/82 "2012-12-10T08:29:49Z")
Chiropractic is pure and utter woo. Some chiropractors have learnt the basics of some elements of traditional physiotherapy. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/83 "2012-12-10T13:25:17Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Just to ask, can you really go to a physical therapist for just random back pain (not caused by an accident or injury or what have you)? I didn’t think that was what a physical therapist was for. Yes, you can. (My husband is a PT and often treats people for chronic pain that doesn’t come from a specific incident.) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/84 "2012-12-10T14:42:12Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Yes, you can. (My husband is a PT and often treats people for chronic pain that doesn’t come from a specific incident.) I wouldn’t recommend going to a therapist without a clear diagnosis from a specialist, however. Diagnosis isn’t their speciality, in my experience. (If I am wrong, let me know) ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/85 "2012-12-10T14:53:24Z")
I was at the grocery store this weekend and the carts had [this advertisement. I had to take a picture because it was so…grotesque.](http://64.136.20.22/3269227_m.JPG) The picture shows a girl, maybe 3-4 years old, getting a spinal adjustment. Here’s [their website](http://www.mindbodychiropractic.com/) which says: > [@](#): > > Dr. Vernon Kuznia locates and corrects misalignments of the spine called subluxations to allow the innate intelligence of the body to better express itself. Oh, and the [13 reasons to have your spine checked?](http://www.mindbodychiropractic.com/13-reasons.html)Pure amusement if they weren’t purposefully bilking ignorant folks out of their money. Number 8 is my magical favorte: > [@](#): > > 1. More Hours in Your Day. > How can you get more than 24 hours a day from chiropractic visits, especially when the visit is going to take at least a little time? Well, time-management experts will tell you that it is the efficient use of your time, not the total number of hours that is the issue. If your mind and body are working as well as they possibly can, you will be more efficient and more than make up for the time it takes to visit your chiropractor. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/86 "2012-12-10T15:01:02Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > The x-ray is a good thing IMO. Unnecessary and/or excessive X-rays are [not at all good](http://whitecoatunderground.com/2010/08/10/why-do-chiropractors-order-so-many-x-rays/), both for financial reasons and risks associated with ionizing radiation. “Both anecdotal and quantitative studies have shown that chiropractors are very likely to order spine X rays. Given the inutility of these studies, and the radiation exposure, what reason could there be (aside from financial incentive) for chiropractors to order X rays?..X rays can be very effective at diagnosing traumatic bone and joint injuries such fractures and dislocations. These films can be very tricky to interpret, and nearly all doctors have their films over-read by a radiologist. Given that chiropractic is not useful in the treatment of an acute fracture or dislocation, and that chiropractors are not qualified to read these films, this seems a poor excuse for ordering films.” “X rays are not very sensitive or specific for the diagnosis of other important bone diseases such as osteoporosis, and can be very tricky when cancer is a consideration, as some bony cancer lesions show up on X rays and some do not. X rays done and interpreted by a chiropractor or any other unqualified individual can lead to a false sense of security.” Thankfully, it appears that whole body X-rays once commonly ordered by chiropractors and involving relatively high radiation doses, seem less common now. Chiros still claim to be able to identify “subluxations” from X-rays, but chiropractic “subluxation” has not been convincingly demonstrated to exist, to be detectable on X-rays, or be treatable by manipulation. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/87 "2012-12-10T18:04:39Z")
OK I am beginning to see here, that many of you required repeat visits to the chiro…yet mine was fixed in one visit, and symptoms never returned. He did schedule a follow-up visit, but I saw no need and never returned. ’ Worth noting : as I was leaving (after hours, after his office admin left) he could not figure out how to process the credit card, and never charged me. Perhaps his plan was to bill me on next visit during her working hours. I do recall he made clear that I had to start doing repetitive stretch exercises or the pain would return…especially before doing strenuous activity like shoveling snow…advice that I still follow. PS I am one who has never had a stitch nor broken bone; (very very rarely get colds or headaches), never miss work. Only time in hospital was when born. So I am not the type to have imagined the nerve pain. I am also very much a skeptic of anything that can not be proven via science. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/88 "2012-12-10T18:08:34Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I wouldn’t recommend going to a therapist without a clear diagnosis from a specialist, however. Diagnosis isn’t their speciality, in my experience. (If I am wrong, let me know) I’m sure some therapists are better than others and you’d probably want to go to an experienced PT. Many insurance companies won’t pay for therapy without a referral from a doctor, but doctors (especially GPs) very often do refer patients without a clear diagnosis. An experienced PT should be able to figure out what’s going on and put together a plan, or refer you to an orthopedist if he can’t. They certainly aren’t any less qualified to diagnose than a chiropractor is. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/89 "2012-12-10T20:53:16Z")
stpauler… thank you (and curse you) for sharing that image with us. Wow… I don’t even know what to say. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/90 "2012-12-10T21:16:37Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Seriously, the chiropractic theory has been debunked as thoroughly as alchemy Ha! I’d love to see the look on your face when everybody is buying my [del]recycled pet rock[/del] philosopher’s stone for only $999.99 ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/91 "2012-12-10T22:02:37Z")
My chiro doesn’t claim to help anything but my chronic muscle pain. He does light massage - no cracking or popping. He checks to see if I’m doing my exercises right, and if it’s the right combo for my current issues. He reports back to my MD every 6 months. I go in once a month, unless I have acute pain, which isn’t very often anymore. I’m sure it’s the exercises which do the most good. Thinking of him as a doctor guilts me into doing the darn exercises that, if I weren’t going in once a month, I probably wouldn’t do. His practice is covered by my insurance without a prescription, which is why I go to a chiro rather than a physical therapist, which requires a prescription (and thus a trip to my MD) every 3 months, or a massage therapist, which isn’t covered at all. I didn’t even know about the woo-side of chiropractics. That’s some weird shit. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/92 "2012-12-10T23:54:00Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > So… if I go to a medical doctor, a general practitioner in the United States… how often are they going to refer me to a chiropractor? I don’t think I would continue to go to a doctor that referred me to a chiropractor. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/93 "2012-12-11T00:08:57Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I don’t think I would continue to go to a doctor that referred me to a chiropractor. Haha fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/94 "2012-12-11T03:10:24Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I think your situation is rather atypical. Most of those x-rays in the chiros office are a complete waste of time and money. Ambivalid, I agree with you about the quacks out there because I’ve met some of them. But I have been misdiagnosed by M.D.s so much that I had little to lose by trying something different. Luckily, I found someone who knew what he was doing on the first try. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/95 "2012-12-11T11:13:03Z")
Backrubs don’t cure cancer. A massage therapist can help you with a bad back, for a fraction of the cost of Dr Woo. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/96 "2012-12-11T14:03:26Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Well hell. I have an appt with one tomorrow morning. I resisted, but my husband wants me to give it a try. I’m in so much pain from this possible herniated disc and the chiro is cheaper than an mri, but it sounds like I’m going to be just wasting my time. > > sigh Do not go to a chiropractor for a diagnosis! I knew a guy who’d done some radical skating in his youth & often had aches & pains; not advanced enough to require surgery & the MD’s just offered him drugs. So he visited a chiropractor every couple of months & seemed to get relief. OK for him. Another friend had horrible back pain that only got worse after months with a chiropractor. (I saw him briefly–he was jaundiced & looked shockingly bad.) So he went to an acupuncturist–who gave him an exam & told him to get himself to an MD immediately. He had pancreatic cancer & didn’t last long. An early diagnosis might not have helped, but I’m appalled at that chiropractor, just taking his money as he got sicker. Your situation is probably not so grim–but you do need to see a real doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/97 "2012-12-11T14:42:58Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Dr Woo. That made me wonder, other than the Dan reference, there really are [Drs Woo](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=active&q=%22dr+woo%22+chiropractor) who are chirpractors. Whoda thunk! ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/98 "2012-12-12T00:28:32Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Backrubs don’t cure cancer. > > A massage therapist can help you with a bad back, for a fraction of the cost of Dr Woo. Bosda, I only go to the chiro when I’ve thrown something out of whack in my back because the M.D. doesn’t do a damn thing for it. I wouldn’t ever consider going to the chiro for cancer, or pneumonia. I go to the M.D. In my experience a backrub is great for muscle tension but doesn’t relieve the scoliosis issue as well as my chiro. And the cost is the same. Different problems usually have different solutions. But for heaven’s sake, ask others for references to a specific M.D., D.C., or massage therapist. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/99 "2012-12-12T00:30:39Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Yes, you can. (My husband is a PT and often treats people for chronic pain that doesn’t come from a specific incident.) My impression was you still need a prescription for PT in order to see one though? Is this true, or does it depend on the state? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498/100 "2012-12-12T00:44:07Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > In my experience a backrub is great for muscle tension but doesn’t relieve the scoliosis issue as well as my chiro. And the cost is the same. Evidence-based medicine says the following about scoliosis which has stabilized and does not require alignment surgery (which represents that vast majority of scoliosis): > [@](#): > > Most patients with scoliosis have little, if any, functional limitation or pain in adulthood. Back pain is slightly more common than in the general population but is rarely disabling, and the risk of neuropathy is low. Mortality is not increased compared with the general population. (From [UpToDate.com](http://UpToDate.com), a subscription medical website.) Chiros have a reputation for diagnosing a lot of scoliosis that is not clinically significant. Or even necessarily present. I’m not saying that’s the situation in your case, but the above info does represent the thinking of the scientific medical community on the topic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-pure-woo/643498.md?page=6)