2019-09-18 02:37:38
A help or a hinderance?
If you search “chiropractic” on Youtube, you get thousands upon thousands of results, with some videos reaching over 7 million views. Some of these viewers watch for the “ASMR” factor – they find the cracking sounds satisfying, or joyful. Others watch and ask for help in the comments, wishing for relief and to visit these chiropractors, while complaining of their own practitioners: “I wish my chiropractor did more hands-on time with me. I’m lucky if I get six minutes of cracking,” one viewer wrote.
Earlier in 2018 while attending a chiropractic conference, one of the speakers was commenting on videos of chiropractic adjustments and how they typically only serve to hurt or endanger the profession. The DC cited many of these videos do not show any sort of consultation or assessment of patients, which could be seen as unprofessional. Sometimes, adjustments look like they hurt, or look like there is more intense pressure used than in reality. (So, to the untrained eye, the adjustments look dangerous and could effectively put off the audience from visiting a chiropractor themselves.)
Recently, that moment in time popped back into my head and I realized I had never actually seen any of these videos. One night I got into a serious Youtube spiral, clicking through video after video: “INCREASED FLEXIBILITY after INTENSE BACK CRACK!” and “MASSIVE RELEASE OF SPINAL TENSION LOUD NECK AND BACK CRACKS!” and “Epic Adjustment and Instant Relief!”
Nearly all of the videos have a generally positive comment section, and every single video I saw had self-proclaimed “crack addicts” watching (those who enjoy the sounds of the adjustment). In nearly every comment section, one of the viewers, or even the DC/uploader themselves will timestamp the adjustments so viewers can go directly to them. In these videos, some patients cry as they feel instant relief, others look amazed and generally feel happier, more satisfied.
At chiropractic conferences practitioners are not shy to share their patient success stories with one another. From young to old, from migraines to debilitating back pain, from athletes to wheelchair-bound patients, the stories shared are heart-warming and exciting. Videos seem to be just another tool in the toolbox to bring chiropractic to the masses.
What are your thoughts? Are public videos of chiropractic adjustments there to help or hinder the profession?
JANNEN BELBECK, Editor
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