STRATEGY

Don’t Pay or Contract in Advance for Chiropractic Visits at a “Discount” Price

Many chiropractors offer contracts under which patients pay in advance or agree to pay for many visits at a “discount” price. I have seen contracts for as many as 100 visits. Chiropractors who offer them typically tell all patients that long-term care is needed to prevent recurrence, spinal degeneration, or various serious diseases. Some chiropractors display a chart of “subluxation degeneration” or “spinal decay” that they say is inevitable without intensive and/or long-term care. Some tell nearly all of their patients that the curvature of their neck needs to be changed. All such advice represents overselling. Even if chiropractic treatment can legitimately help a problem, it is not possible to know in advance that a large specified number of visits will be needed. In addition …

AHCPR

Scoliosis: A Sensible Approach

There are several types of scoliosis. Fortunately, most are rare. The common type is “idiopathic scoliosis,” so called because the cause is unknown. It affects about 4% of the population, but is more common among females. Idiopathic scoliosis usually starts between the ages of 10 and 12. As the child grows, there is a chance the curve can progress (worsen). Most curves will not worsen during adolescence and worsening after growth is complete is unusual. Other types of scoliosis include congenital (caused by an abnormally shaped bone that is present at birth); neuromuscular (due to a neuromuscular disease such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, etc.); acquired (following a fracture, radiation therapy for cancer, etc.); and juvenile. Juvenile scoliosis is similar to adolescent scoliosis, but it …

Chiropractors—Knocking At Your Door?

What if a chiropractor refers a patient to a physician? What if he wants a report, a lab test or an X-ray examination? What if a patient wants his records sent to a chiropractor? What should you do? Today’s chiropractors claim they can determine what lies within their scope of treatment and the rest they refer to other practitioners. They back these claims, not with scientific evidence, but with the specter of legal action against anyone who gets in their way. The Nature of Chiropractic The “discovery” of chiropractic is attributed to Daniel David Palmer, an Iowa grocer and “magnetic healer.” In 1895, so the story goes, Palmer restored the hearing of a deaf Janitor by “adjusting” a bump on his spine. After further study, …

Victims of Chiropractic

Victims of Chiropractic (V.O.C.) is a support network and clearinghouse for reliable information on chiropractic’s hazards and foibles. Our educational outreach also includes basic information on the psychology of quackery and human vulnerability. V.O.C. was founded in 1991 by George J. Magner, III, author of Chiropractic: The Victim’s Perspective [1]. I assumed leadership in 1997, shortly before Magner’s untimely death from colon cancer. Malpractice risks Peter J. Modde, D.C., a chiropractor who began speaking out publicly about chiropractic’s shortcomings during the 1970s, warned that: Chiropractic is based on a false theory. Its practitioners are inadequately trained in diagnosis, and most do not know their limitations. . . . Since chiropractors are licensed as “doctors,” most people who consult them expect to be “properly medically diagnosed.” …

The Orthopractic Guidelines

The Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists (CAMT) has developed guidelines for a science-based approach to manual therapy. Membership requires a pledge to adhere to the guidelines. Most members are physical therapists, but others who do science-based spinal manipulation are welcome to join. Orthopractic Manual Therapy Manual movement of the joints of the human body in practiced by several medical professional groups such as chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, family physicians, orthopedic specialists, and sports therapists. We call this, orthopractic manual therapy. The word “ortho” refers both to the bones of the body as well as to the word orthodox, meaning acceptable scientific standards. The word, “practic” comes from the Greek word “prattein” which means “to do” In brief, the word orthopractic means to provide manual therapy in …

What to Do If a Chiropractor “Quacks” You

Many chiropractors encourage people to have treatment they don’t need. Often this is done by telling them they have spinal problems (“subluxations”) that, if untreated will cause great difficulties. Many chiropractors try to persuade every person they see—and sometimes whole families—to have weekly or monthly examinations and spinal “adjustments” throughout life. Chiropractors who offer “free” or “discounted” initial evaluations suggest this to nearly everyone they evaluate. Many chiropractors suggest that after patients feel better, they should have prolonged “maintenance care” to prevent future problems. No program of this type has ever been shown to provide any health benefit. In fact, as far as I know, chiropractic has never conducted a study to test its widespread belief that “maintenance care” is useful. Some chiropractors offer “discounts” …

What a Rational Chiropractor Can Do for You

Spinal manipulation can relieve some types of back and neck pain and other conditions related to tightness and loss of mobility, such as tension headache or aching in muscles and joints. We also know that massage may be as effective as cervical manipulation in relieving tension headache. And physical therapy techniques may be as effective as spinal manipulation in long-term relief of back pain. Rational chiropractors can offer all of these modalities, when appropriate, and thus provide patients with a choice. They may also offer basic advice about nutrition, weight loss, exercise, ergonomics, relaxation techniques, body mechanics, home care (such as use of hot or cold packs), massage, and other self-help measures that might help relieve or prevent aches and pains. Science-based chiropractors make appropriate …

Acute Low Back Pain

Low back pain (LBP) is a major medical problem. Worldwide, from 60% to 80% of people will have it during their lifetime and 2% to 5% will have it at any given time. In the United States, LBP is the one of the most common problems for which people visit a doctor [1] and is the most common cause of disability under age 45. The total annual cost in the United States for health care and lost productivity is nearly $100 billion. However, only 10% of the patients account for 90% of the cost. Thus its management and its impact on our workforce are a major drain on the American economy. Our approach to this disease must be changed. Before discussing the treatment of a …