Chiropractic Question

[Miss Whiplash]

Ok, be gentle as I’m still fairly new to this board and I know Chiropractic is viewed as woo.

In the past, I have been sent to Chiropractors, by my MD, for back & neck sprains and strains. I did find total relief from my injuries in about 3 weeks. The ultrasound, diatherapy and physical therapy I received was very similar to physical therapy I received from an orthopedic surgeon. Also let me state I’ve never believed in chiropractic as a cure all.

So, I would like to ask – what really caused the injury to heal? A manipulation is equal to a massage in some respects. Did the combination of manipulation and PT increase the blood flow to the injured muscles and aiding healing? Was it the placebo effect? Or would it have healed up anyway in 3 weeks with out any of this?

 

[Blue Wode]

So, I would like to ask – what really caused the injury to heal? A manipulation is equal to a massage in some respects. Did the combination of manipulation and PT increase the blood flow to the injured muscles and aiding healing? Was it the placebo effect? Or would it have healed up anyway in 3 weeks with out any of this?

I’d say that it’s impossible to know what really caused the injury to heal. However, regards your back sprains and strains, you might be interested in this article:

Nachemson (1985) indicates that the natural history of back pain is extremely good. Only 10% suffer, even when disabling, for more than 6 weeks. Almost 60% return to work within 1 week. Nachemson believed it was difficult to establish effectiveness in prospective randomized clinical trials in a disease where the natural history is so good. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (1997) developed a medical essay on back care. According to this essay, "Episodes of back pain usually resolve within two weeks. And regardless of the type of treatment, 80% to 90% of back pain resolves within six weeks" (p. 4). An Australian group, the NSW Therapeutics Assessment Group (1998), stated that 90% of patients with acute episodes of back pain recover within 2 weeks (p. 1).

http://www.skepticreport.com/health/backpain.htm

For a discussion on the evidence for chiropractic, see this recent thread:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58682

 

[Eos of the Eons]

{skeptical hat on}

I'd like to know what kind of md refers a patient to chiros. Is this chiro just a chiro, or did he go back to school and add physiotherapy under his hat?

 

[Miss Whiplash]

{skeptical hat on}

I'd like to know what kind of md refers a patient to chiros. Is this chiro just a chiro, or did he go back to school and add physiotherapy under his hat?

This particular chiro went back to school and added Sports Medicine. Mind you, one injury was so bad I could not move my legs for two days. At that time my MD said never to see a chiro if the injury is that severe.

Blue Wode: Thanks for the links!