Chiropractors, crazy charlatans or celestial being?

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Coming from a family of MDs, I'm biased against most chiropractors and I fully acknowledge it. Honestly I'd recommend you go to a physical therapist or a sports medicine doctor instead.

My son who lifts (he lifts heavy and sometimes doesn't wear a belt -- smart, huh?) began seeing a chiropracter for lower back problems after having MRIs, unsuccessful physical therapy, and overall lack of responsiveness from an orthopedic and a neurologist. He really improved significantly. My husband, who always insisted they were quacks was having lower back spasms. He had seen a few in the past with no results. But he has also had a lot of surgeries, including an upper lumbar disk surgery in the fall, where he had to be on pain killers for over a month. Sometimes he would literally sleep all day due to the pain killers and be up all night. He decided not to go the medical route again and tried the one my son was going to. After about a month, he was pain free and his range of motion was greatly increased. He's not even taking ibuprofen. By the way, this guy specialized in sports type injuries and athletes and was also covered by our insurance. He was the kind who was willing to see patients on an as-needed basis (my husband came in to the office as an "emergency" so acute he could barely sit down), rather than get you into a program with adjustments 3 times a week that you have to pay up front for. My recommendation is to try it, but go to someone recommended to you by a friend or family member.

Heavenly! My aunt is a Chiropractor, and I have students, coworkers, and friends that have ended up going to her and raving without knowing the connection.
I have a somewhat sedentary lifestyle, I commute to work, spend most time standing, other parts sitting. I'm not planting crops, working horse teams. I don't always eat organic or even on the healthy side. I weigh more then people generally did 150 years ago. I hurt, my joints ache.
Seeing a chiropractor helps physically decompress my spine, work muscles, and realign. She uses a ProAdjuster which takes physical movement readings (ie this lumbar vertebra moves # while the next one only moved #). She can pinpoint the ones that are not moving like they should and work only one them, no cracking! Plus, endorphin rush.
If it makes you feel better, who cares what everyone else things. You use your body 24/7, so even when something isn't yet hurting, a part might be compressed, straining, or taking the load for another muscle/tendon/etc.
My co-worker eats coconut oil, from the jar like PB. I think that's gross but she says it's helping her GI issues. I can't judge what she feels works.
Look to see if anyone uses the ProAdjuster in your area.

Honestly I'd recommend you go to a physical therapist or a sports medicine doctor instead.

^ This.

Can be either one in truth - more to the Charlatan . I'm not a big advocate for chiropractors. However, a good one can do a lot of good. Found one for my daughter when her spine and hip were so out of line and she was terrific. Helped me keep my spine from being too whacked out until I had my hip surgery. There are certain types of treatments that a PT is not going to be able to perform - and trust me I have done plenty of PT.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Coming from a family of MDs, I'm biased against most chiropractors and I fully acknowledge it. Honestly I'd recommend you go to a physical therapist or a sports medicine doctor instead.

Agreed. Also with a large family background in medicine and training in EMS.

This is the thing for me - massage feels good. If you have achy muscles and joint issues, it's likely that some chiropractic things will help. I've had physiotherapy for injured neck, back, shoulders, and sprained ankles. I did consult a chiro that stated that my knee problems clearly derived from a bike crash had postural and alignment origins. No thanks.

Some of their claims are just quackery - like curing cardiopathies, diabetes, colic in children [ffs, please don't get your infant "adjusted" for teething issues]. The biggest problem I see is that some use it as a cure all- and when the only tool you have is a hammer, every situation starts looking like a nail.

I'd only use one for back pain. And only as a backup/second choice to a more generalized physiotherapist.

Just like every other profession: some are quacks and some are equivalent to the celestial being you mention. You might have to look around to find the right one. I've had a bad back since I was 20 and I've seen several chiro's over the years. This is what I've learned:

1. They can't fix every problem. Adjustments are only good for a disc that is pinching a nerve and causing pain, spasms etc. If they tell you they can cure cancer by cracking your back it's bullstuff.
2. The benefits of an adjustment are immediate and should last a long time. A CHIROPRACTOR told me this. The ones that tell you to come 3 times a week just want your money. An adjustment should fix the problem and set you on your way to healing within a day or two.
3. Don't go too often. Go only when you are hurt and in pain for more than 3 days. A spasm or sore muscle should heal up by then. If not, there is a bigger problem (like a disc pinching a nerve) and an adjustment will most likely help.
4. Just because your spine is misaligned does not mean there is a problem! EVERYBODY has misaligned discs in their back- it is natural and it just happens. You only need an adjustment if it is causing pain or discomfort- let your muscles, posture etc. deal with every thing else. You don't need an adjustment every time your discs move around or you would need one every day.
5. If you have chronic symptoms that don't go away or come back soon- see an MD and get an MRI. Preferably a D.O.

Also, I have recently gotten some serious back pain in my lower back - still have been exercising through it - even had back day yesterday... but my back was killing me this morning and the Chiropractor seemed like an easy fix.

I highly suspect that your lower back pain is from using the Smith Machine for squats. The fixed bar tends to make you rest against it and the Smith Machine forces you into unnatural movements patterns. You’re pushing your spinal erectors & neck muscles more against the bar which means more back stress, especially with heavier weights. If your feet are too far forward it puts your lower back in a weak position and will tend to make your lower back round.

Definitely depends on the chiropractor, which is really the same for any of the mentioned practitioners above. I have had great physical therapist after knee surgery, and lousy ones. You are the best judge of who and what is working or not.

That said, I have for the past 6 months seen a chiropractor 2 times a month, the range of motion in my neck is greatly improved, my pain level is much lower and my overall health is greatly improved. I have been able to workout more consistently, run, bike, lift than before with greater strength, stamina and results.

Ask around for one your other friends go to or would recommend.