[enriquto]

> I’d like to see some scientific studies proving chiropractic adjustments are harmful.

This is really not at all how science works. On the contrary, chiropractors should be able to prove that their methods work to a community of extremely skeptical scientists, using double-blind tests as is standard practice.

At the end, it is likely mostly harmless, just like homeopathy. It may be even positive, in that receiving regular soothing attention from a bullshitter may have a good effect on your mental health (unless it is used as a replacement for real medical care when there are serious issues).

[cj]

> It may be even positive, in that receiving regular soothing attention from a bullshitter may have a good effect on your mental health

This is why I would be more interested in seeing studies showing harm than studies showing efficacy.

If it’s harmless and helps people in psychosomatic/indirect ways, I’m all for it. Especially when the alternative is going to an orthopedic doc and getting pain meds, over-eagerly prescribed surgery, etc.

[enriquto]

> I’m all for it.

Not me. I abhor pretty lies, even when the knowledge of the truth proves to be harmful.

[warble]

Sure it is, he's addressing a specific question that is theoretically testable.

This is the same question that gets asked of drug developers as well - There's the efficacy question AND the harmful question. Does it work? (not what he's asking) and Does it break something? (this is the question)

This is a valid scientific endeavor.

[robert4]

I think it makes more sense when you rephrase it and drop the ask for proof to something like 'I would be interested in some scientific studies on the safety...' (at least I would, having considered visiting a chiropractor recently for back pain).

Medlife Crisis has a good video talking about the placebo effect and the promotion of pseudoscientific treatments that's really worth a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQw2B0vCPYo

tl;dr In the video, he captures my concerns perfectly about the whole thing, "by mainstreaming and legitimising practices outside proven science it increases acceptance of things that don't work, and regular people can be harmed through neglecting effective therapies"