Chiropractors against lifting heavy?

Natihilator

I went to a chiro appointment last week because I have chronic problems with my lower back and hips and, and I try to be careful when working out and I stretch A LOT, but I still need adjustments from time to time. When I told my chiropractor what I've been doing in the gym, he said 'barbell squats and deadlifts are OUT. Which sucks, but I'd rather give them up for now than deal with the back pain. He said to do lots of core work - planks and side planks mostly

I went again today armed with a bookmarked copy of 'NROL4W' to show him the specific exercises, and asked which ones I should go light on, which I should modify, which I should just stay away from in general considering my issues. This time he was saying that shoulder presses and overhand grip lat-pulldowns "weren't good" as they can stress the ACL, and he sees a lot of people with this shoulder injury. But doing push-ups are fine. He also said while it's good I'm taking such an interest in strengthening my body, it's best to "do more reps with lighter weights" :indifferent:

For anyone else who goes to a chiropractor, is it common for them to advise stuff like this? I don't want to make things worse for myself so I'll listen to what he says, but I'm also wondering if maybe I should see a physiotherapist instead. Thoughts?

wellbert

Or a doctor of sports medicine.

kelsully

My chiropractor just opened a CrossFit gym and competes in CrossFit cometitions. He pesters me to lift me more as I am a marathon runner...so no my chiropractor would not say what yours did.

dunlunicor

See someone who specializes in sports medicine, who will help you do what you want to do safely as opposed to discouraging it altogether.

Natihilator

My chiropractor just opened a CrossFit gym and competes in CrossFit cometitions. He pesters me to lift me more as I am a marathon runner...so no my chiropractor would not say what yours did.

Wow. I guess mine is just 'old school'. Time for a new chiropractor I guess...

Natihilator

Thanks, I will find a sports medicine specialist. Too bad they aren't covered by my health insurance...

freddykid

You may want to find a doctor with a sports medicine background if you are looking to for what you can do to prevent more injury. Anyway the chiro is just trying to look out for you, overhead press is pretty stressful on the lower back.

jaharrison763

Not mine! She encourages me to keep lifting, but to make adjustments if I need to avoid pain. Yeah, you might want to see someone who's more up to speed on the benefits of lifting heavy.

Iron_warrior33

I've been to two chiropractors after two different accidents, and after they finally got my back fixed, they had no problems with me lifting heavy, but while they were working on it, I wasn't allowed to do any type of overhead presses or barbell squats as it put too much pressure on my injured spine.

ETA: Depending on your job, sitting at a desk all day, is worse on your spine than heavy lifting, because all your upper body weight compresses on your spine, whereas, standing puts more weight on your legs. Also, laying in bed, too "propped up" like with extra pillows or in my case, having my arms under my head, isn't good for your neck and spine either.

Rayman79

I swapped my chiro for an African Witch doctor. The end result is the same.

ubermensch13

I swapped my chiro for an African Witch doctor. The end result is the same.

Ha! Yes!

freddykid

I swapped my chiro for an African Witch doctor. The end result is the same.

At least you get to watch your doctor dance and sing, chiros just stand there. Judging I think.

Natihilator

I've been to two chiropractors after two different accidents, and after they finally got my back fixed, they had no problems with me lifting heavy, but while they were working on it, I wasn't allowed to do any type of overhead presses or barbell squats as it put too much pressure on my injured spine.

That makes sense, but the thing that frustrates me is that he doesn't give me a time frame of when I should be OK to do them again. I just don't want to think that I can NEVER do those exercises again, but also my condition isn't one that needs time to heal really, as it always pops up sooner or later, so I don't think it can be completely fixed, just managed.

IronSmasher

It's common for chiropractors to be quacks.

Chameleone

I haven't asked my chiropractor about it, but I can tell he lifts heavy because he's built...very well built...

AntWrig

It's common for chiropractors to be quacks.

The whole practice is "quacked".

Natihilator

They may be quacks, I just didn't know any better and needed the pain to stop :frown:

I guess I just needed my suspicions validated with this post. I'm going to stop seeing him.

liesevanlingen

Maybe your chiropractor is just telling you what's best for YOU. You say he's treating you for chronic back problems so he's probably giving you this advice based on your condition. He wouldn't necessarily give the same advice to, say, someone training for a marathon

I'm not trying to dissuade you from looking for a different specialist--as a matter of fact, I'm a firm believer in "get a second opinion"--I'm just making an observation.

Would your health insurance cover acupuncture? That might help with pain management, as well as being a drug-free procedure. My husband found it to be quite helpful in reducing pain before his hip replacement surgery (due to a very old sports injury as a young teen that left him nearly crippled, and with one leg an inch and a half longer than the other, for 30 years.)

Hope you can find what your looking for!

Ely82010

I went to a chiro appointment last week because I have chronic problems with my lower back and hips and, and I try to be careful when working out and I stretch A LOT, but I still need adjustments from time to time. When I told my chiropractor what I've been doing in the gym, he said 'barbell squats and deadlifts are OUT. Which sucks, but I'd rather give them up for now than deal with the back pain. He said to do lots of core work - planks and side planks mostly

I went again today armed with a bookmarked copy of 'NROL4W' to show him the specific exercises, and asked which ones I should go light on, which I should modify, which I should just stay away from in general considering my issues. This time he was saying that shoulder presses and overhand grip lat-pulldowns "weren't good" as they can stress the ACL, and he sees a lot of people with this shoulder injury. But doing push-ups are fine. He also said while it's good I'm taking such an interest in strengthening my body, it's best to "do more reps with lighter weights" :indifferent:

For anyone else who goes to a chiropractor, is it common for them to advise stuff like this? I don't want to make things worse for myself so I'll listen to what he says, but I'm also wondering if maybe I should see a physiotherapist instead. Thoughts?

It seems that your chiro and mine went to the same school, and so did my orthopedic doctor. Due to my crappy knees (torn meniscus and moderate arthritis in both), I was told not to do deadlifts with heavy weights and only do "body weights squats,” which is actually the only way I can squat. Chin ups, pull ups and military presses are also a no-no after rotator cuff surgery in both shoulders. My PT had also given me the same recommendations when I went for therapy, so there you have it.
It is up to you to follow his suggestions, get a second opinion or continue with your routine. Medical professionals are more qualified than MFP people and if they treat you, they know your body and its limitations. I wish you good luck, I know that it sucks to limit workouts.
"

upgetupgetup

Chiros are whack

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/apr/22/chiropractic-graphic-novel-science-tales-pictures

See a sports med, or a physio

Duck_Puddle

Thanks, I will find a sports medicine specialist. Too bad they aren't covered by my health insurance...

Unless you have some extraordinarily odd insurance, it will cover a sports medicine MD-they are generally orthopedists or GP's who also specialize in sports medicine. They bill for the same procedures and have the same credentials as any other MD-they just approach things from a standpoint of returning you to whatever activity it is that you do-vs a rest and/or stop and you won't hurt anymore. That may be the only option for some, but a sports medicine MD will understand that you want to keep lifting and will work with you to make that happen if possible. And they are covered under medical insurance (provided you follow your network & any referral rules and that jazz-but they are regular MD's doing regular MD stuff).

Natihilator

Maybe your chiropractor is just telling you what's best for YOU. You say he's treating you for chronic back problems so he's probably giving you this advice based on your condition. He wouldn't necessarily give the same advice to, say, someone training for a marathon

I'm not trying to dissuade you from looking for a different specialist--as a matter of fact, I'm a firm believer in "get a second opinion"--I'm just making an observation.

Would your health insurance cover acupuncture? That might help with pain management, as well as being a drug-free procedure. My husband found it to be quite helpful in reducing pain before his hip replacement surgery (due to a very old sports injury as a young teen that left him nearly crippled, and with one leg an inch and a half longer than the other, for 30 years.)

Hope you can find what your looking for!

I think acupuncture is covered actually, though I've never really been crazy about the idea of it but I guess I'll try anything. As for my chiropractor, my mother's been seeing him for 25 years, and swears up and down that he's a good one...but she's also been seeing him for 25 years :ohwell:

Thanks for your insights!

Hezzietiger1

my ex is a Chiropractor... he also retired from professional power lifting . He benches 705 lbs. Is that heavy?;-)

bdamaster60

I was talking to one not 2 weeks ago, and he thought I had a case of thoracic kyphosis, I told him, today was 'chest day', saw him again the next day, he said I had excellent posture, I said 'today was back day'. lol this idiot.

Natihilator

Thanks, I will find a sports medicine specialist. Too bad they aren't covered by my health insurance...

Unless you have some extraordinarily odd insurance, it will cover a sports medicine MD-they are generally orthopedists or GP's who also specialize in sports medicine. They bill for the same procedures and have the same credentials as any other MD-they just approach things from a standpoint of returning you to whatever activity it is that you do-vs a rest and/or stop and you won't hurt anymore. That may be the only option for some, but a sports medicine MD will understand that you want to keep lifting and will work with you to make that happen if possible. And they are covered under medical insurance (provided you follow your network & any referral rules and that jazz-but they are regular MD's doing regular MD stuff).

Really? wow, I should know these things. I just started on a limited insurance plan last week and didn't see 'sports medicine' listed when I skimmed the info sheet, but I'll check it again.

bdamaster60

my ex is a Chiropractor... he also retired from professional power lifting . He benches 705 lbs. Is that heavy?;-)

that's pretty heavy for a bench holy *kitten*

dinosnopro

My chiropractor is a heavy lifter.

chrisdavey

My chiro and his wife compete in powerlifting so it's not what all of them think.

However, as was said your chiro would be giving you advice based on what he/she has seen with your condition. Never hurts to get a second opinion though.

The golden rule of anything exercise related is that don't do it if it hurts!

m0ll3pprz

They may be quacks, I just didn't know any better and needed the pain to stop :frown:

I guess I just needed my suspicions validated with this post. I'm going to stop seeing him.

I hear that a lot from others but it's not always the case. When I am in pain, the only thing that helps is a couple visits to the chiropractor. I can go months without further problems after an adjustment or two. I'm sure that some are more qualified than others but... I think that's the case with any profession. Besides, most of us aren't actually experts in the medical field :-) Thank goodness for second opinions! I can see where your doctor may have been giving you information based on your personal injury though. I have been wanting to lift heavy too but I have been nervous about making it worse!

I recently decided to take it a step further and enlisted the advice of a Sports Med Dr. My intent was much like yours. When he asked me why I was there I said, "I'm in pain and I'm tired of my back going out and I want answers as to what is wrong and how I can prevent further damage/ repair my damage. I want a few physical therapy sessions to get guidance on what exercises/ lifting I can or can't do, with proper form." So, an MRI last week revealed I have bulging herniated/ degenerative discs/ osteoarthritis and I am scheduled for physical therapy to learn how to deal with these issues before I look into surgical options. I suggest you look for a second opinion with a sports Med Doc or an Osteopath if you have any near you. Back problems are really debilitating at times :-(
I wish you luck and I hope that you get to pursue your weight lifting aspirations soon! Feel better!

editing to add: Weight bearing exercise is actually the BEST way to build bone, it's superior to calcium. There has to be some kind of balance for us!

Cant0na

They may be quacks, I just didn't know any better and needed the pain to stop :frown:

I guess I just needed my suspicions validated with this post. I'm going to stop seeing him.

I hear that a lot from others but it's not always the case. When I am in pain, the only thing that helps is a couple visits to the chiropractor. I can go months without further problems after an adjustment or two. I'm sure that some are more qualified than others but... I think that's the case with any profession. Besides, most of us aren't actually experts in the medical field :-) Thank goodness for second opinions! I can see where your doctor may have been giving you information based on your personal injury though. I have been wanting to lift heavy too but I have been nervous about making it worse!

I recently decided to take it a step further and enlisted the advice of a Sports Med Dr. My intent was much like yours. When he asked me why I was there I said, "I'm in pain and I'm tired of my back going out and I want answers as to what is wrong and how I can prevent further damage/ repair my damage. I want a few physical therapy sessions to get guidance on what exercises/ lifting I can or can't do, with proper form." So, an MRI last week revealed I have bulging herniated/ degenerative discs/ osteoarthritis and I am scheduled for physical therapy to learn how to deal with these issues before I look into surgical options. I suggest you look for a second opinion with a sports Med Doc or an Osteopath if you have any near you. Back problems are really debilitating at times :-(
I wish you luck and I hope that you get to pursue your weight lifting aspirations soon! Feel better!

I had my MRI a few weeks ago L4/L5 prolapsed disc, I asked the specialist about weights and he told me to do cardio.

funkycamper

Really? You are going to quit going to any chiropractor because a couple of folks on MFP called them all quacks? Now, that's whacked, imho.

I had a severe back injury in '06. The MRI showed extreme bulging discs (don't remember the L#'s off-hand but in my lower-back). MRI report said worst bulging discs he has seen without herniating. After a few visits with an orthopedic surgeon, he wanted to fuse my back which he said would give me very limited movement for the rest of my life but would take away the pain. Screw that. I know a few folks who have had that surgery and they have had to have additional surgeries because changing on thing in the back often leads to other problems. And they both live on pain pills. Nope, not going there.

So I then visited a chiropractor and was also seeing a physical therapist as recommended by my MD and orthopedic surgeon. Neither did a dang thing to alleviate the pain.

I changed chiropractors. Wow! Just wow! Saw immediate progress. He also gave me exercises to do and told me to stop doing some of the exercises the physical therapist was having me do as they would actually aggravate the back problem. Lots of good progress continued. Added in massage therapy and a couple of cranio-sacral therapy sessions. Wow, tremendous progress.

Now fully healed. No surgery. No limited movement for the rest of my life. No pain. It was a slower process but the trade-off was totally worth it, imho.

My chiropractor totally supports my heavy lifting as long as I listen to my body and stop what I'm doing or modify what I'm doing if it puts pressure on my lower back. Sometimes this means that I might not be able to increase a weight for awhile, just reps, but after a week or two of increasing the reps, I can then safely increase the weight. It might slow my progress on increasing the weights I'm lifting but it hasn't stopped it. And this means I can mix in some muscle endurance once in awhile and still get in my strength training. Not a bad deal.

Oh, I do go into the chiropractor once every few months if my hip is bothering me (my hip went out as well as my back) but these visits are few and far between the more I work out and the stronger I get. But if I go in and have noticed some kind of problem, he usually gives me some kind of additional exercise to help with that particular issue or, sometimes, it really means that I need to stretch certain areas more and he gives me specific stretches to do. It's all good.

You may have a chiropractor that happens to be a quack but it doesn't mean they're all quacks.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with switching to someone with sports medicine expertise either. You might actually find that this and a better chiropractor are a good combination. If you are in lots of pain, it does make sense to check out numerous options and get more opinions before deciding on a plan of action.

ETA: During the course of treatment while my back was healing, something like weights would have been out for me as well. I was only allowed to walk and do the exercises the chiropractor gave me. Yeah, that sucks but you wouldn't run on a broken leg, would you? Same concept.