[Phlow]

I'd like to see a study of the correlation between people that believe Chiropractics is bullshit and people that believe climate change isn't real.

Seriously, if you've ever been to a chiropractor for back and neck related problems, you know that it's at the VERY LEAST not bullshit. Claiming it's all just quack science is completely ignorant.

I do know that chiropractors have long struggled to keep clientele, because people come when they're hurting, and stop coming when they feel better. So, some chiropractors have taken to questionable methods to keep people coming back. The ones on the up-and-up will, quite correctly, tell you that just cracking your back isn't going to fix your problem, and that you need to do strengthening exercises of the core muscles that keep your bones in the correct spots, and to fix your posture problems.

[stephenboyd]

Chiropractors are like physical therapists but with tradition and intuition instead of evidence-based medicine. It doesn't mean they can't help you, but they're not your best or safest option if you can see a real physical therapist.

[pwinnski]

Are you suggesting that belief in the efficacy of chiropractic correlates with belief that climate change isn't real, or the reverse?

It seems to me that skepticism of the medical establishment and skepticism of mainstream environmental science would go hand-in-hand, but I also think chiropractic is bullshit (and I've been to a chiropractor for back and neck related problems).

[Phlow]

I'm rolling my eyes and guessing there's a significant positive correlation between people that believe chiropractics is bullshit and people that believe climate change isn't real.

[Terretta]

Anecdotally, I see the reverse equally often.

In communities with enough time and money to act precious, I see stronger correlation between pro-chiropractic, anti-gluten, and anti-vax.

[davidivadavid]

Scientific evidence is more than underwhelming when it comes to supporting chiropractic, which makes it very much unlike climate change.

[EpicEng]

I went to a chiro for neck and shoulder pain regularly for a couple of months. I felt nominally better for a couple of hours after each session, but then the problem came right back. They also told me to stretch, which was obvious.

Took a trip to a doctor and got a useful diagnosis at the first visit. So I would say no, going to a chiro does not prove it to be more than complete BS. They stretched out my tight muscles/tendons which gave me minor temporary relief. Woohoo.

[Phlow]

Well, how many people go to doctors and get no useful information or solutions to their problems? Tons. It doesn't follow that doctors are bullshit. (And I would argue that a couple hours of nominally feeling better is more than those people get from a doctor visit, but I digress)

If your problems are spine/neck/etc related, having yourself adjusted will provide relief, and strengthening, stretching and maintaining good posture habits will help keep those things from recurring. And, of course, as you age, the body breaks down... there's only so much that can be corrected.

I will say, strengthening my core made the most difference in my spine/neck pain. Heavy weight squats, push ups, planks, etc.

[EpicEng]

Moving the goal posts a bit here. The doctor ended up solving the issue in my case.

[lttlrck]

Did they recommend any exercises? And did you follow them? The pain coming back is hardly a surprise if neither of those things occurred. Same with physio.

[EpicEng]

I've been lifting weights since I was 14, so no exercise recommendations. I did the stretches, but I was doing that prior to seeing them anyway.

In my case, the problem was something called weight lifter's shoulder. Not something that can be fixed by a chiro, but they were happy to take my money for two months while providing no diagnostic value.