Debunking Chiropractic
So; just what is Chiropractic? Practitioners believe that so called "subluxations" cause most illness. This is the classic chiropractic stance to which many practitioners no longer subscribe although it is a basic tenet that adjusting the spine is key to good health. A "subluxation" is, apparently, a "misalignment of the spine that interferes with nerve signals from the brain".
However, there is no scientific evidence for spinal subluxations and none have ever been observed by medical practitioners such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, or radiologists. D. D. Palmer a 19th century grocer from Iowa first came up with the idea. He believed that he had cured someone of deafness and another of heart disease by manipulating their spines. From these delusions he decided that "95% of all diseases are caused by displaced vertebrae." So there you have it. Dreamed up by a 19th century loony, with absolutely no scientific evidence, millions of people subscribe to it. B. J. Palmer, the son of the founder and a strong adherent, was asked what were the main functions of the spine. His rather interesting answer was: "to support the head, to support the ribs and to support the chiropractor."
However, there is no scientific evidence for spinal subluxations and none have ever been observed by medical practitioners such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, or radiologists. D. D. Palmer a 19th century grocer from Iowa first came up with the idea. He believed that he had cured someone of deafness and another of heart disease by manipulating their spines. From these delusions he decided that "95% of all diseases are caused by displaced vertebrae." So there you have it. Dreamed up by a 19th century loony, with absolutely no scientific evidence, millions of people subscribe to it. B. J. Palmer, the son of the founder and a strong adherent, was asked what were the main functions of the spine. His rather interesting answer was: "to support the head, to support the ribs and to support the chiropractor."
Pseudo-Scientific Nonsense
"The chiropractic vertebral subluxation complex is an historical concept but it remains a theoretical model. It is not supported by any clinical research evidence that would allow claims to be made that it is the cause of disease or health concerns."
If you insist on trying it, do read this article first so you can see some of the potential risks involved. There is also this article in Quackwatch about the incidence of stroke following neck manipulation by chiropractors. Never, never let a chiropractor perform neck rotation.
On May 25, 2010, The General Chiropractic Council (GCC), a UK-wide statutory body with regulatory powers, issued the following statement:
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