Chiropractic
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The public has many different perceptions of chiropractic medicine, as there are few unified standards of practice for it. Most patients seek out chiropractors because they are suffering from back pain; there is some evidence that spinal manipulation is effective for short term pain control.<ref name="walker">[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20393942 "Combined chiropractic interventions for low-back pain." Walker B.F.; French S.D.; Grant W.; Green S., ''Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.'' (2010)]</ref> However patients also may be drawn toward the [[pseudoscience]] end of chiropractic medicine, which has numerous claims of being able to cure childhood colic (noting that legitimate chiropractors don't operate on minors because they have insufficiently developed bone structure to take the manipulation) or even serious illnesses in extreme circumstances. This is attractive to patients for the same reasons as other forms of [[alternative medicine]], such as perceived failures or side-effects of mainstream medicine or attraction to the "[[natural]]" aspects of the treatment. The more esoteric claims of chiropractors are perhaps bolstered by the common perception of spinal manipulation being effective for back pain and the studies that support this. | The public has many different perceptions of chiropractic medicine, as there are few unified standards of practice for it. Most patients seek out chiropractors because they are suffering from back pain; there is some evidence that spinal manipulation is effective for short term pain control.<ref name="walker">[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20393942 "Combined chiropractic interventions for low-back pain." Walker B.F.; French S.D.; Grant W.; Green S., ''Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.'' (2010)]</ref> However patients also may be drawn toward the [[pseudoscience]] end of chiropractic medicine, which has numerous claims of being able to cure childhood colic (noting that legitimate chiropractors don't operate on minors because they have insufficiently developed bone structure to take the manipulation) or even serious illnesses in extreme circumstances. This is attractive to patients for the same reasons as other forms of [[alternative medicine]], such as perceived failures or side-effects of mainstream medicine or attraction to the "[[natural]]" aspects of the treatment. The more esoteric claims of chiropractors are perhaps bolstered by the common perception of spinal manipulation being effective for back pain and the studies that support this. | ||
| − | In the US, following the passage of [[Obamacare]], chiropractors are trying to have themselves recognised as primary care physicians in many jurisdictions | + | In the US, following the passage of [[Obamacare]], chiropractors are trying to have themselves recognised as primary care physicians in many jurisdictions.<ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/obamacare-and-cam/ Obamacare and CAM], Jann Bellamy, [[Science Based Medicine]]</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/obamacare-and-cam/ Obamacare and CAM II: Discrimination (or not) against CAM], Jann Bellamy, [[Science Based Medicine]]</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/obamacare-and-cam-iii-great-expectations/ Obamacare and CAM III: Great Expectations], Jann Bellamy, [[Science Based Medicine]]</ref> |
==Chiropractic theory== | ==Chiropractic theory== | ||
Revision as of 08:28, 6 December 2014
| Against allopathy |
| Alternative articles |
Chiropractic is the theory and practice of correction of "vertebral subluxation processes" to treat and cure a supposedly vast array of diseases with no scientifically verified connection to vertebral anatomy. Basically, this means cracking the spine in several places because the spine, being the centre of all nerves in the body, is connected to everything; this somehow enables the body to magically heal itself. It was developed in the late 19th century by D.D. Palmer, just before the development of modern medical education in the United States and the shift towards evidence-based medical practice.
Chiropractic is analogous to osteopathy, but where osteopathy chose to join the mainstream, following the scientific consensus on theories of disease, human physiology and so on, to the point that there is little functional difference between a DO and an MD in everyday practice, chiropractic chose instead to cling to outdated and wrong theories. Some chiropractors have now started to step back from these, but the majority still appear to support the nonsensical "chiropractic subluxation," the empirically unverifiable misalignment of the back that Palmer claimed caused disease and which medical science knows does not.
The scientific consensus is that chiropractic manipulation may be as effective as other forms of manual therapy for lower back pain, but that there is a known and documented risk of death due to chiropractic manipulation of the neck.[1][2]
As well as occasionally killing or disabling its patients (something about which it is in complete denial),[3] the chiropractic profession is notorious for recommending, often with dire warnings, indefinite courses of treatment — where a physiotherapist will try to restore function and discharge a fit patient, a chiropractor will tend to try to keep the patient coming back indefinitely. Much chiropractic continuing education is focused on "practice building" — i.e., sales technique.
So, chiropractic works about as well as mainstream physiotherapy for some conditions, claims to treat conditions it can't, has a tendency to try to bleed you dry, and might kill you. The phrase "not recommended" sums this up nicely.
Contents |
Scope and standards of practice
The public has many different perceptions of chiropractic medicine, as there are few unified standards of practice for it. Most patients seek out chiropractors because they are suffering from back pain; there is some evidence that spinal manipulation is effective for short term pain control.[4] However patients also may be drawn toward the pseudoscience end of chiropractic medicine, which has numerous claims of being able to cure childhood colic (noting that legitimate chiropractors don't operate on minors because they have insufficiently developed bone structure to take the manipulation) or even serious illnesses in extreme circumstances. This is attractive to patients for the same reasons as other forms of alternative medicine, such as perceived failures or side-effects of mainstream medicine or attraction to the "natural" aspects of the treatment. The more esoteric claims of chiropractors are perhaps bolstered by the common perception of spinal manipulation being effective for back pain and the studies that support this.
In the US, following the passage of Obamacare, chiropractors are trying to have themselves recognised as primary care physicians in many jurisdictions.[5][6][7]
Chiropractic theory
Most chiropractors subscribe to the theory of "vertebral subluxation".[8] This differs from the medical definition considerably. An "orthopaedic subluxation" is a painful partial dislocation of a vertebral body. A "chiropractic subluxation" is an asymptomatic misalignment or a "vertebral subluxation complex" thought to be a cause of disease. Such a subluxation has never been proven to exist.[9]
In July 1996, the Association of Chiropractic Colleges issued a consensus statement that "Chiropractic is concerned with the preservation and restoration of health, and focuses particular attention on the subluxation. A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health." This hypothesis has never been tested, and ignores significant anatomical reality, such as the fact that much of the nervous system does not pass through "subluxations" in any way. This especially applies to the autonomic nervous system that "influences organ system function".
Effectiveness of chiropractic
Lower Back Pain
The usual medical therapy includes back exercises and anti-inflammatory medications. The Cochrane Review[10] finds that chiropractic care may be equivalent to standard care (i.e., Tylenol) for only a couple of types of back pain. For example:
- This study shows weak evidence that chiropractic therapy is as effective as other medical therapy in relieving acute low back pain.[4]
- In this study chiropractic therapy was criticised from a cost aspect.[11]
- A study comparing outcomes of acute low back pain treated by orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians (PCP), and chiropractors found similar outcomes, but less cost from PCPs.[12]
- A more recent study from 2011 suggests that patients under Chiropractic care for non-specific lower back pain have a lower risk of injury recurrence.[13]
Other Problems
While 50-60% of patients who seek chiropractic care do so for back or neck pain, a significant number are treated for other problems. There is no evidence to support the use of chiropractic in general medical conditions. Notably this has been looked at in childhood afflictions including asthma[14][15] and bedwetting,[16] (where spinal manipulation can in fact be dangerous due to underdeveloped bone structure) but also other pain-based afflictions such as menstrual cramps.[17] Chiropractic care has been cited for use in treating cancer[18] and is popular for pain control, but is certainly not recommended for curing or even preventing cancers.[19][20]
Potential harms
There are many potential harms associated with chiropractic. These fall into three main categories:
- Cost: chiropractic care costs more than usual care for low back pain.
- Overreach: many chiropractors claim to treat conditions for which they have no evidence of effectiveness. They may discourage conventional medical care as it is out of line with subluxation theory (and it would cut into their profits). Also, national health systems may route people to chiropractors to delay more effective, but expensive therapy that could more appropriately be rendered by physicians.
- Danger: in very rare circumstances, chiropractic care can be actively dangerous, including causing stroke, carotid artery dissection, and vertebral artery dissection although it is possible this is just a correlation.[21][22][23][24]
Summary
There is evidence that chiropractic can help alleviate symptoms of low back pain. There is also evidence that it can help with other medical problems and may in fact cause harm, but the chances of this are very low. The theory behind chiropractic, specifically subluxation theory, is scientifically unsound although patients of chiropractic believe it has fixed their overall well being.
Given the good results, it should not be classified as a pseudoscience and rather classified as a medical procedure equally or more effective than regular medicine
See also
External links
- Skeptic's Dictionary Entry
- Chiropractic at What's the Harm?
- Steven Novella: Chiropractic: A Brief Overview Part I, Part II
- Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care
Footnotes
- ↑ Chiropractic and stroke, Harriet Hall, Science Based Medicine
- ↑ Chiropractic stroke, Quackwatch
- ↑ Debate on spinal manipulation neck click stroke risk, NHS Choices
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Combined chiropractic interventions for low-back pain." Walker B.F.; French S.D.; Grant W.; Green S., Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. (2010)
- ↑ Obamacare and CAM, Jann Bellamy, Science Based Medicine
- ↑ Obamacare and CAM II: Discrimination (or not) against CAM, Jann Bellamy, Science Based Medicine
- ↑ Obamacare and CAM III: Great Expectations, Jann Bellamy, Science Based Medicine
- ↑ McDonald W (2003) How Chiropractors Think and Practice: The Survey of North American Chiropractors. Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University
- ↑ Samuel Homola, DC,Chiropractic: History and Overview of Theories and Methods, CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH, Number 444, pp. 236-242,2006.
- ↑ http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD005427/combined-chiropractic-interventions-for-low-back-pain
- ↑ Shekelle PG, What Role for Chiropractic in Health Care? N Engl J Med 339:1074, October 8, 1998 Editorial
- ↑ Carey TS, Garrett J, Jackman A, McLaughlin C, Fryer J, Smucker DR. The Outcomes and Costs of Care for Acute Low Back Pain among Patients Seen by Primary Care Practitioners, Chiropractors, and Orthopedic Surgeons, N Engl J Med 333:913, October 5, 1995 Special Article.
- ↑ Cifuentes M, Willetts J, Wasiak R., Health maintenance care in work-related low back pain and its association with disability recurrence, J Occup Environ Med. 2011 Apr;53(4):396-404.
- ↑ Cochrane Collaboration - Manual therapy for asthma
- ↑ Balon J, Aker PD, Crowther ER, Danielson C, Cox PG, O'Shaughnessy D, Walker C, Goldsmith CH, Duku E, Sears MR A Comparison of Active and Simulated Chiropractic Manipulation as Adjunctive Treatment for Childhood Asthma. N Engl J Med 339:1013, October 8, 1998 Original Article.
- ↑ Cochrane Collaboration - Complementary and miscellaneous interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children
- ↑ Cochrane Collaboration - Spinal manipulation for dysmenorrhoea
- ↑ Wellness Directory of Minisota -Chiropractic Care (Note the "Simply because something is 'unproven' does not mean that it has been 'disproven.'" quote at the top and see here.)
- ↑ Cancer Research UK - Chiropractic
- ↑ American Cancer Society - Manual Healing and Physical Touch
- ↑ Hufnagel A, Hammers A, Schonle P-W, Bohm K-D, Leonhardt G. Stroke following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine. J Neurol 1999;246:683-688.
- ↑ Vickers A, Zollman C. The manipulative therapies: osteopathy and chiropractic. BMJ 1999;319:1176-1179.
- ↑ Schievink WI, Mokri B, Piepgras D, Parisi J, Silbert P. Cervical artery dissections associated with chiropractic manipulation of the neck: the importance of preexisting arterial disease and injury. J Neurol 1996;243:Suppl 2:S92-S92.
- ↑ Stroke caused by chiropractor. (MSNBC)