Is chiropractic treatment effective?!

Is chiropractic treatment effective?

What kind of adjustment is the best? Have you heard of or have you had success with the "adjustment gun?"

I'm 26 wks pregnant and experiencing pain through my upper back and shoulder. I had a chiropractic "adjustment" with the gun thing... It didn't hurt, and I could had swore that the relief was instant, but I'm just curious if it really did anything.

Any experiences? Thank you!

5 months ago
I don't believe that this dr. was taking advantage of me. The appointment consisted of him assessing my posture, feeling around for uneveness (sp?) and using the adjustment gun. He also rubbed my shoulders some. He explained that there were three areas that were out of wack. The whole thing only cost $33.

Depends on how you defined "effective". Chiro is a form of "spinal manipulative therapy"..........basically these techniques have been around for 100's of years, and are also used by massage therapists, physios and a variety of other practitioners. It feels good to get a massage or have someone rub a sore back for you, doesn't it?

Chiro takes these harmless, possibly helpful techniques and ads their own unique pseudo-scientific marketing slant however. They claim that "innate energy" can become blocked by the spine being out of alignment, and that they can alter the course of various diseases by chiro adjustment. That is pure quackery and magical thinking. Chiros who claim they can treat medical problems such as diabetes, hypertension etc, or who advocate against childhood immunizations are dangerous quacks.

Yes, some people get relief from chiropractic. You know what, I crack my knuckles and my neck, and it feels good when I do it. About an hour later I feel the "need" to crack them again. It's a bad habit. Am I affecting a disease process? No. Is a chiropracter affecting your health when he gets you to come in for periodic adjustments? No. Does he drive a nice car?

Go to http://www.quackwatch.org for lots of articles on chiropractic flummery. The history of this branch of so called alternative medicine (s.c.a.m.) is fascinating. It was "invented" by a grocery clerk just over 100 years ago, and has absolutely no basis in science, anatomy or physiology.