Spinal decompression aka non surgical spinal decompression in my opinon is better than an inversion table because spinal decompression uses a computer to control how much distraction and decompression to apply to your spine and helps stretches out the muscles too. Inversion tables you just hang upside down but be careful because there are some recalls about the ankle locking system not working and making you fall. Make sure to do your research. A chiropractor deals with any musculoskeletal issues and sometimes work with a massage therapist in house to help patients with muscle spasms or muscle imbalances. Professional athlete's medical team would even include a chiropractor to help players to perform at their best ability by keeping the body balanced and flexible. I remember reading somewhere that when Jordan Spieth won the Masters Tournament that even thank his chiropractor in his acceptance speech for his green jacket. If it helps for the pros, I don't see why a chiro can help with the average joes. Everyone's body may heal differently due to their injury and it doesn't hurt to try different types of treatment to see what will help you the most. Best of luck cardpire
This stuff can be more complicated than it seems.......some people can just get popped back into place, some can do the inversion therapy, etc..depends on where, what, when, etc... Plus, one has to consider what getting better means to each individual. If you're pretty sedentary, then simply not having constant pain would be enough for you to declare something worked great, but maybe it just reversed things enough to not hurt and you're still only operating at 60% of your capabilities. that may not work for someone who's more active. Also, things like "stretching the hamstrings"......some people may not realize that you have 3 hamstrings and 2 of those can actually counter what the third one does (knee rotation)...so they're pretty much opposites in that movement, but then will share function in another movement....so it's important to know what's really going on and not just go HAM stretching everything back there...heck, you may even have a pelvic tilt that already has your hamstrings on stretch, so you may think they feel tight because they are shortened, when they are actually tight because they're stretched to their limit already. Stretching them would make things worse. the list goes on and on.. That's why i suggested neurokinetic therapy....they actually test muscles out and figure out what's out of whack. I have the book which is basically level 1 of their testing techniques, so i've tried it out and know it works, although i can't personally vouch for the local practitioners'' competence in the techniques, but perhaps opting for the level 2 practitioner would solve that. Coincidentally, they had a post on sciatica today. Here's another: you may or may not have sciatica,,but i think this is a good option to try...you could end up going from chiro to chiro or PT to PT, without relief..
Wait, you are cautioning the safety of an inversion table instead of the powered traction device that mechanically pulls you long ways? When doing research use common sense. Do I want to spend thousands on a quasi-legit traction device for a dozen sessions, or spend a few hundred on an inversion table I can use everyday.
I used to work at UTHSC and you could go to any Dr in the med center for no charge/no deductible. One of the perks of being underpaid. I went to different Drs who did different tests but had the same results. Put me on muscle relaxers and pain meds. I had my fair share of drugs early in my life and didn't want to live like that so I decided to try a quack chriro. I was shocked to have been fixed in 3 visits (got better longer each time). And I've been fixed more than once from a single visit with near miracle results. Now that's not always the case and there are many do nothing chiros out there or it may not help this person but to say to avoid a chiro is wrong.
I don't think it is wrong. Again, saying that you don't want surgery or narcotics isn't justification for chiropractic treatments. Those are just bad doctors, or visits. Tons of things have been listed in this thread far cheaper and proven to work that aren't handing money over for snake oil. I'm glad I don't have a bad back, I'm sure it's horrible and you would be willing to try anything. I also commend you on not doping yourself and finding something that works. The back is a mystery tho and sometimes it just gets better or worse. For some reason people are more willing to accept a prescription of stretching, exercising, losing weight massage and inversion therapy from quacks. When a doctor says these things they are asked for "real solutions".
Well.... You have to find a legit chiropractor that isn't claiming they can cure the flu by popping joints or fix some Crazy herniation... But I do know some new (and actual) research articles are showing that lower back manipulation does work when performed properly by a chiropractor, however the verdict is still out on neck adjustments. But you're right on not dismissing it, especially since I've seen some MDs working with chiropractors, and I've also personally experienced some crazy results on lower back.. I went pt/MD first route but was just provided with stong meds and training but didn't have great results (like couldn't walk complete lower back lock, insane pain and I've even had a compound spiral fracture of the femur... So pain was way up there when I say insane ), chiropractor fixed me more in one visit vs weeks of pt/meds. pain went from like a 9 (obviously when off meds) to a 3, then few more visits and gone and was off meds. It also was covered under insurance so wasn't like I was paying crazy cash maybe $60 total for 4 visits . It really just depends where the patient is, good chiropractors will know there limits and won't bullshit you "sure, ruptured disk?? I can fix that!!!".
I'll have to see if I can find the articles, I have a strong science background and am pro MD all the way (especially since I'm looking to apply), and this isn't for serious injury (and I'm not saying what op should do), but if no structural damage showing from mri/xray etc there is some legitimate research that was published in an actual journal that is showing lower back manipulation does have some purpose and can help along with PT/exercise. Unfortunately mid and neck area so far haven't shown much and px can be worse off if those are adjusted. Like iirc neck adjustment was showing damage vs lower back that was showing improvement in control vs exp groups.
I have a tiger repelling rock I can sell you that also helps you lose weight (along with diet and exercise).
Haha, if you can get your work published in a real science journal and have it backed up with actual data and p-values I'll take a look
It depends on the person's injury that treatment can vary. If you have a slight back pain then there is no reason to get decompression but an inversion table will work out fine. If you have a bad back like my dad with a multiple huge herniation with impinged nerve and pain with flexion/ walking then decompression table has given him so much relief and avoided surgery. Any mild-moderate pressure to my dad back will aggravate the pain so that why an inversion table would not work for him in his case because he could not handle that much pressure.
