"'It all works!" (tm)

If you hang around chiropractors for any length of time, you hear about "some chiropractors" who have some ideas that are a little "out there." From questionable methods of diagnosis, to strange adjusting techniques, to practitioners who are just plain nutty, there are people in the field who have no business treating patients. But most of the time, the licensing boards refuse to act, because there are hundreds of techniques making contradictory claims, and the boards (and schools) won't say which are valid and which are not, nor test competing techniques because they don't want to alienate any of them. (For a sampling of techniques, see list below. There are many others.)

It reminds me of a scene from The Fiddler on the Roof. Two men are arguing, and each time one presents his side, Tevye says, "You know, you're right!" Finally, another man points out, "You say he's right, and you say he's right, but they're saying completely opposite things. They can't both be right!" To which Tevye replies, "You know, you're right!"

There is also a widespread belief among chiropractors that "It all works." If you have good intentions, which technique you choose doesn't matter. (You know where that road leads.) I just ran across a quote that sums this up: "I remember hearing that if you hit someone in the butt with a board, but do it with a lot of love, the patient will get better." Hmm... I think my parents had a similar theory...

A Sampling of Techniques that "All Work" (tm)

Access Seminars
Activator Methods
Active Release Therapy
Advanced BioStructural Correction
Advanced Muscle Palpation
Alphabiotics
Alternative Chiropractic Adjustments
Applied Chiropractic Distortion Analysis
Applied Kinesiology
Applied Spinal Biomechanical Engineering
Aquarian Age Healing
Arnholzt Muscle Adjusting
Atlas Orthogonality Technique
Atlas Specific
Bandy Seminars
Barge Technique
Bio Kinesiology
Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (BEST)
BioSET (Bioenergetic Sensitivity and Enzyme Therapy)
Bioenergetics
Bio-Geometric Integration
Biomagnetic Technique
Blair Upper Cervical Technique
Bloodless Surgery
Body Integration
Buxton Technical Course of Painless Chiropractic
Chiroenergetics
Chiro Plus Kinesiology
Chirometry
Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP)
Chiropractic Concept
Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique
ChiropracticNeuro-Biomechanical Analysis
CHOK-E System
Chrane Condylar Lift
Clinical Kinesiology
Collins Method of Painless Adjusting
Columbia Technique
Concept Therapy
Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA)
Cox Flexion-Distraction
Cranial Technique
Craniopathy
Directional Non-Force Technique
Diversified
Endo-Nasal Technique
Extremity Technique (Ext)
Focalizer Spinal Recoil Stimulus Reflex Effector Technique
Freeman Chiropractic Procedure
Fundamental Chiropractic
Global Energetic Matrix
Gonstead Technique
Grostic Technique
Herring Cervical Technique
HIO - Hole in One
Holographic Diagnosis and Treatment
Homeokinetics
Howard System
Kale Technique
Keck Method of Analysis
King Tetrahedron Concept
Laney Technique
Leander Technique
Lemond Brain Stem Technique
Life Upper Cervical
Logan Basic Technique
Master Energy Dynamics
Mawhinney Scoliosis Technique
McTimony Technique
Mears Technique
Meric System
Micromanipulation
Mitza Neuroemotional Technique
Motion Palpation
Muscle Palpation
Muscle Response Testing
MusculoSkeletal Synchronization and Stabilization Technique
Myofascial Technique
Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET)
Nasal Specific
Nerve Signal Interference (NSI) Removal
NerVerteBraille
Network Chiropractic
Neural Integration Technique
NeuroCranial Restructuring (NCR)
Neuro Emotional Technique
Neuro Lymphatic Reflex Technique
Neuro Organizational Technique
Neuro Vascular Reflex Technique
Nimmo Receptor Tonus Technique
NUCCA Technique
Olesky 21st Century Technique
Orthospinology
Ortman Technique
Perianal Postural Reflex Technique
Pettibon Spinal Biomechanics
Pierce-Stillwagon Technique
Posture Imbalance Patterns
Polarity Technique
Pure Chiropractic Technique
Reaver's 5th Cervical Key
Receptor Tonus Technique
Riddler Reflex Technique
Rumpt Technique
Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT)
Soft Tissue Orthopedics (ST)
Somatosynthesis
Spears Painless System
Specific Majors
Spinal Stressology
Spinal Touch Technique
Spondylotherapy
Sutter Upper Cervical Technique
Sweat Adjusting Technique
Tensegrity Therapy
Thompson Terminal Point Technique
Tiezen Technique
Toftness Technique
Toggle Recoil Technique
Top Notch Visceral Techniques
Tortipelvis / Torticollis
Touch for Health
Total Body Modification (TBM)
Truscott System
Torque Release Technique
Triunified Health Enhancement System
Ungerank Specific Low Force Technique
Variable Force Technique
Von Fox Combination Technique
Webster Technique
Zimmerman Technique
Zindler Reflex Technique