“Systematic reviews of controlled clinical studies of treatments used by chiropractors have found no evidence that chiropractic manipulation is effective, with the possible exception of treatment for back pain.[8] A 2011 critical evaluation of 45 systematic reviews concluded that the data included in the study “fail[ed] to demonstrate convincingly that spinal manipulation is an effective intervention for any condition.”[10] Spinal manipulation may be cost-effective for sub-acute or chronic low back pain, but the results for acute low back pain were insufficient.[11] No compelling evidence exists to indicate that maintenance chiropractic care adequately prevents symptoms or diseases.[12]”

  • Furbag@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    37
    arrow-down
    23
    ·
    11 months ago

    This is one of those things, like acupuncture, that I will not fault anyone else for engaging in. There’s no hard evidence that they are effective, but if it helps you with your problem (even if it’s all in your head), then it was worth it, was it not?

    I know people who have had their lives improved and their mobility restored thanks to chiropractors. I also know one or two who swear they got scammed for years because the pain always comes back really quickly.

    I may not personally recommend a chiro to someone as a solution to their back or neck pain, but I won’t discourage them from going if they are considering it.

        • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          11 months ago

          There’s a difference though. Doctors are trained professionals so when they kill someone it’s by accident (hopefully), but quack doctors are not professionals, when they kill someone it’s 3rd degree murder.

          There’s a difference between making stuff up and an unsuccessful medical procedure, but the only way to tell the difference is if the person has a reasonable chance of actually being successful I.e. a medical professional.

          That’s why surgeons don’t commit assault. But some random person coming at me with a knife does even if the end result is still my chest cavity being opened up.

    • Sunfoil@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      32
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 months ago

      Acupuncture can also fuck people up. Unsurprisingly it’s dangerous to have someone with no medical training inserting long needles into your body.

      Anyone benefiting from chiropractic probably just needs a real physiotherapist.

      • Furbag@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        I guess my point is that it doesn’t really matter if their practice is backed up by hard science or not if some people still experience tangible benefit from doing it. Is it still a scam if the scammer provided you the product that you paid for?

        Like I said, I would never advocate for someone to go see a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a homeopath, a shaman, or whatever alternative treatments that might be out there over going to a real doctor or therapist, but if they’re already going to one and claiming that it’s working for them, why bother trying to convince them otherwise? You can tell them it’s pseudoscience until the cows come home, they’re not going to be inclined to listen.

    • arc@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 months ago

      Acupuncture is quackery too. At the very least it should not be part of any public health service, or insurance policy, and people gullible enough to go for it should have to pay out of their own pocket.

      • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        11 months ago

        I used to think the same thing, now I am torn. Are you familiar with the organ that is the interstitium?

        • Agrivar@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          11 months ago

          Do you mean the network of collagen fibers and fluid-filled spaces that underlies the skin and surrounds the gut, muscles, and blood vessels? Calling that an “organ” is a ginormous stretch.

            • Agrivar@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              11 months ago

              Ok, I’ll admit that I learned something today - so that’s a win - but did you even read the article you linked?

              The researchers are calling this network of fluid-filled spaces an organ—the interstitium. However, this is an unofficial distinction; for a body part to officially become an organ, a consensus would need to develop around the idea as more researchers study it, Theise told Live Science. The presence of these fluid-filled spaces should also be confirmed by other groups, he added."

              So, ya know, it’s not being called an organ by anyone but this group of researchers…

              • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                11 months ago

                I am glad you read it, this subject matter fascinates me.

                It’s essentially almost like a new discovery from only 5 years ago. I think we are about to learn much more about the different roles this system (organ) plays.

                I am not going to debate about whether some groups have declared it an organ or not. I believe it will be in time anyway.

                The research surrounding this is interesting because you have so many people jumping into it that some people are simultaneously saying things like “I think this could be a way cancer moves around the body” and another being like “Yeah, I basically proved that already. I am attempting to figure out how to stop it”

    • Rooskie91@discuss.online
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      11 months ago

      This was news to me too not long ago, but acupuncture is legit and used in western medicine. I found this out because a friend of mine in the military received acupuncture to treat his back pain. Like a white dude named Brad that went to med school put 3 or 4 pins in his ear and his back pain was gone for the day.

      Here’s an article more scientific than my antidote. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1129299/