One shoe does not fit all……as in one style of chiropractic is not for everyone. Does it work? Absolutely. But you need to keep in mind what your goal is. Some chiropractic ends up being just the band aid approach. You need to fix the root cause, if that is fixable at all. Keep in mind that when you usually get an adjustment, it may only last as long as you are lying on that table. Once you get up and gravity takes over, bye bye adjustment.
BEWARE #1: It is possible to have joints over-manipulated to the point of distress. I experienced this back in 1978 when I went to my first chiropractor. He was intent on “fixing” my lumbar scoliosis and had me coming in three times a week. Then I started having low back pain, which I never did before. So I quit going to him. It’s been a learning process since then, as well as trial and error with practitioners and styles.
So many options to try to see what works best for you:
- The Palmer method and others: https://www.petrakchiro.com/blog/palmer-method-chiropractic
- Applied Kinesiology (not recommended): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_kinesiology
- Activator method (requires special training; not just purchasing the equipment): https://www.activator.com/research/
- Atlas orthogonal: https://uppercervicalawareness.com/what-to-expect-from-atlas-orthogonal-technique/
- NUCCA: http://www.nucca.org/
- Pettibon System: https://pettibonsystem.com/
There are some great methods that do focus on the root cause of certain conditions, such as the Pettibon System (trained practitioners are few and far between). But in the long haul, and yes, it IS a LONG haul, it won’t be cheap and it takes pure dedication and commitment. Just one more thing to try to crowd into our already busy lives. Again, choices.
BEWARE #2: Unfortunately, there are some chiropractors out there who just want to make a buck. They give you the same old song and dance without results: “just a few more visits”. As with any health condition and working with a provider, it should be a team approach; meaning, you and the provider. Get a written treatment plan if the provider suggests multiple visits. Do your research and listen to your body!
On the other hand, you may need one quick fix, and not repeated visits, for an acute injury. Example: A long, long time ago….in a galaxy far, far away….well, it seems like that now….I had volunteered at a summer camp for kids with cystic fibrosis. One afternoon, we were playing in the pool with some of them. Someone had the idea to play Chicken. So I had a kid sitting up around my neck and another mounted kid reached forward and pulled my kid, and me, forward under water. Outside of the fact that I thought I was going to drown, something “slipped” in my neck. I could not tilt my head back at all. A single visit to the chiropractor put everything back into alignment and voilà! Problem fixed.