Experiences with Chiropractor?

[colby]

I see a chiropractor regularly for maintenance on the cycle that I feel I need it for the volume that I train.

When not training 12-18 hours a week, I can go every 4-6 weeks, or I suppose more, if I am stretching and doing yoga, especially poses that counter the exercise and daily work I'm doing for stretching and build related muscles when strengthening. When I am training 12-18 hours a week and racing, I have to go every 3 weeks. I know it sounds frequent, but it seems to be what my body wants - if I get to 4, things start to get tighter. Sometimes I can stretch it to 5-6 with the high load, but it requires a massage (or acupuncture) inbetween, which is kind of a wash. At the end of those 18 hour weeks if I have a few in a row, I need both chiro and massage (or a dedicated spouse).

I have seen chiro-factory chiropractors, who schedule you for your regular visit and you're in and out in 5 minutes, you feel 10% better and they get your $40. If you're injured, you pay your $40 and don't feel better. It took me a while to find my current chiro, who is more of a sports guy, which is up my alley, and he is quick to recommend exercises, stretches, and physical therapy-like treatment regimens for anything out of the ordinary or any injuries I've had, or just the recurring issues I have that I'd prefer to undo myself. The last guy I had, if you explained something to him, it was all smile and nod. My current guy will listen and if something doesn't sound right, we'll talk about it. If I feel like he's moving too fast or missed something, I'll ask.

In your situation, I'd ask people for personal references, maybe people who are active, and find a new chiro. Good luck!

[Bike Chick]

I was always sceptical about chiros and had never had a very good experience with them until recently. I had been seeing a podiatrist for 3 months for a foot problem without much improvement. Most of that time I had been told to stop running and biking, received cortisone shots and he was talking surgery. I went to a chiropractor a month ago and he has fixed my foot with adjustments and massage. He has given me stretches and exercises to do on my own and I am running again without pain in my foot. I have become a believer and would agree that it depends on the chiropractor.

[ny biker]

When I first went to a chiropractor she helped my back a lot. Although I think a big part of that was the fact that she encouraged me to do regular stretches especially hamstring stretches.

When I went back a couple years ago with neck and shoulder pain, the adjustments helped for about an hour and after that the pain came back worse than ever. It turned out that my posture at work was the problem -- when I got a new pc that forced me to sit up straight instead of slouching with my feet on the tower under my desk, the pain went away literally overnight.

Also after those last appointments I was very unhappy with the way they billed me. I think it might actually have been insurance fraud. Anyway I'm not going back.

In the future I would probably try physical therapy before another chiropractor.