Dr. Squat - Dr. Fred Hatfield

The speaker first makes the claim that chiropractic is pseudoscience. Then he says (in the very next sentence) that it has some benefits. The 2nd statement is true. The first statement is sometimes true. But then, I can say the same about modern medicine.

Chiropractors know what chiropractic can and cannot do. Medical doctors think they know what everyone else cannot do, whether or not they, themselves, can do it. The former are the lifter's best friend. The latter...well...

***It is not a cure all, nor does it miraculously heal anything, although it can stop some headaches in their early stages. Otherwise, it's use is pretty much preventive.***

I disagree with your last statement. I would suggest you call the clinic at Palmer College of Chiropractic to see who comes in daily for acute conditions and finds relief. It's also a commonly held belief in chiropractic that the body heals itself and the chiro simply puts everything back in place so the body can do what it was meant to do.

Chiropractic has a lot of nutjobs in its ranks, that's for damn sure. So does the medical profession. There is not a single person, organization or entity on this planet who can lay claim to all methods of healing, not MD's, not DO's not DC's, not DDS's, PsyD's or anyone else. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

The video above was pretty shoddy in my opinion. The commentator is taking shots at very old notions put forth by the founders of chiropractic. He is also assuming that because the founders thought a certain way that all chiropractors must think this way. This is faulty logic. The indisputable truth is this commentator has no idea what all chiropractors believe, but can only make assumptions.

Chiropractic has a long way to go, but it has huge potential. In my opinion, treatment for visceral disorders through chiropractic is hard to prove, but this doesn't mean that it should just be forgotten about. Anecdotes are everywhere, but repeatable studies are few. This is changing right now, but it will be a while. Look up the blood pressure study done by the University of Chicago. It utilized the NUCCA technique and was found to be as effective as blood pressure medication in reducing hypertension. This is not the end all be all, but is a reason to start more studies to investigate this matter.

Chiropractic is a natural healing system that treats the whole person rather than just the particular symptoms of a disorder. In chiropractic, a licensed practitioner corrects structural imbalances of the body - called subluxations - with adjustments and manipulations of the spine and articulations (joints).

Subluxation refers to improper biomechanical motion between two vertebrae, which produces irritation of a spinal nerve. This can lead to back and neck pain, muscle spasm and potential for further injury. Tight muscles, incorrect training techniques, scoliosis (curved spine), poor posture, high hip or shoulder or misaligned spine - all can predispose a person to a subluxation.

By restoring proper alignment to the spinal column and the joints, the doctor of chiropractic can help the althere operate at optimum biomechanical efficiency. Chiropractic care can help the athlete to strengthen muscles, improve coordination and balance, extend range of motion, restore proper biomechanical function, achieve greater mental focus and have more energy.

One valuable healing aid which chiropractic emphasizes is time - letting the body heal itself after the structural imbalances have been corrected. Many chiropractors take seriously their responsibility as educators by explaining to the patients what they can do to enhance their own rehabilitation, and that this takes time.

A good chiropractor specializing in sports should explain how to modify training techniques to prevent future injuries. For example, a runner might need to change his or her stride length, shoes, running surface, training schedule or stretching and strength routines.

The chiropractic profession in the past has suffered from much criticism from the medical establishment regarding the fundamental philosophy that chiropractic can “cure” most health problems, from allergies and migrane headaches to bedwetting and heart problems.

While the chiropractic profession was built on this philosophy, science has not proven these claims - and not all chiropractors agree with them anyway. What can be proven, however, is that chiropractic adjustments can restore proper spinal biomechanics, allowing the body to do the work it was designed to do.

There are many types of chiropractors, and they employ a wide variety of techniques. At one extreme, it must be admitted , is the “rack ‘em and crack ‘em” breed which has given the entire profession a bad reputation. This type of chiropractor used the same general spinal manipulations on each patient, without spending the time evaluating each individual’s problems or educating each patient on rehabilitation and preventive programs.

At the other end of the spectrum are those who spend time figuring out the proper corrections for each problem, employ manipulative techniques specific to each individual misalignment, and take the time to explain rehabilitation, prevention and training improvements to the patient.

The athlete is advised to seek out (by asking fellow athletes) a competent sports chiropractor, one who emphasizes the biomechanical aspect of treatment. Biomechanical aspects of treatment include testing for muscle strength and flexibility, gait analysis and correction of weight-lifting techniques, as well as evaluation for spinal alignment. As adjuncts to the manipulations, many chiropractors use physical therapy modalities, including ultrasound, diathermy, ice, heat and electrical muscle stimulation.

Many chiropractic physicians are well-educated in nutrition and often recommend dietary alternations and nutritional supplements as part of the treatment program. A balanced diet with fresh, whole foods is emplasized. Chiropractors also tend to be knowledgeable about stress reduction and its role inenhancing the healing process.

A typical sports chiropractic treatment program consists of two or three visits a wek of 15-30 minutes each. The patient sits or lies on a treatment table, and the practitioner makes biomechanical evaluations using a variety of techniques, including applied kinesiology.

To do the adjustments, the chiropractor gently applied pressure and traction of the spinal vertebrae, sometimes putting wedge-shaped blocks under the patient’s hips. Sometimes there is immediate pain relief; sometimes the back or neck is sore for a couple of day while the adjustment “sets.” Sometimes there is slight muscle soreness while the tight, over-compensating muscles get a chance to relax into normal balance, and new muscles are called into play.

Sports chiropractors have valuable viewpoints on athletic training and injury treatment methods. One leading sports chiropractor, Dr. Sal Arria, director of the Santa Barbara Chiropractic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Santa Barbara, CA and doctor for the 1984 U.S. Olympic track and field team, believes in keeping an injured joint mobile whenever possible for speedier healing.

“New research proves that it is most important to stimulate injured joints into gentle movement as this increases circulation,” said Dr. Arria. “Misaligned vertebral joints have a tendency to fixate and lose mobility between the vertebral segments, leading to biomechanical changes.”

This is contrary to traditional theory, which held that an injured joint should be immobilized in a cast. These days, a cast is put on when the injured joint is unstable with torn connective tissue that needs a healing scar.

“But the longer a joint is immobilized, the greater the degeneration,” said Dr. Arria. “When there is no stress on an injured area, resorption occurs - the body begins resorbing muscle and even bone calcium. The result is atrophy and osteoporosis or demineralization of the bones.”

Another leading sports chiropractor, Dr. Michael Potkin of Vital Health Center in Encino, Ca., believes that chiropractic can make an important contribution to sports medicine in evaluating and treating for muscle inbalances.

Muscle imbalances account for many common athletic injuries, such as pulled hamstrings, said Dr. Potkin.

“Muscle groups are organized into flexors (i.e., hamstrings) and extensors (quadriceps), with one group slightly dominant in strength over the other. This strength ratio is set and must always stay in balance, or injury can result,” said Dr. Potkin.

“During exercise, the agonist muscle group is the major mover, and the antagonist provides the slowing-down movement for the agonist. One theory is that hamstring pulls occur in running during the ‘swing phase’ of the gait, or the elongation phase of the hamstrings during the forward movement of the leg. But if the hamstrings act too slowly in elongating because the quadriceps over-dominate in strength, then a hamstring pull can result.

“a good sports chiropractor can evaluate these imbalances and prescribe strength and flexibility exercises to develop the proper ratio and prevent injuries,” Dr. Potkin said.