chiropractic???

[Hulkeye]

i have a question for you guys in regards to seeing a chiropractor, any thoughts are welcome...thanks!

so i work a desk job 4 days a week for 10 hour days, and 90% of that day is spent sitting. about 3 months ago i noticed if i am on my feet casually walking, not running, jogging or biking, just walking, that my lower back really began to ache. the acheing was in the center or my back, not specific to one side or the other. it helped for me to stretch my back, but the releif from a stretch was only temporary. i thought at first it may be the shoes i was wearing. i have about 6 pairs of new balance 574's that i wear alot because they are really comfortable. as far as seeing someone i brushed it off and just dealt with it. also, this back ache would go away as soon as i sat for a long period of time, and in no way affeced my working out.

so just recently in went to NYC for a long weekend and found that after walking for about an hour, my back was killing me, i had to continuely stretch and sit. my girlfriend at that point called her chiropractor and scheduled me an appointment. she was a gymnast in high school and a cheerleader in college and spoke very highly of the results her chiropractor gave her, so i figured what the hell. i saw him yesterday. he laid me down and did a few stretches with me. he noticed that on my legs specifically, if he turned my leg a certain direction and applied pressure, and asked me to push back, i could push much harder with my right leg than i could with my left on about 6 stretches. then he would show my on my abs where that muscles reactor was and asked me to push with my hand on the reactor, then push against his force again, and i could push harder. he said that this meant that some of the muscles for my left side were not working as hard as they should and needed a jump start or awakening. he said it would take about 3 sessions and would involve some exercises, stretches, massage, etc.

im just wondering if anyone has experienced this before? for every great story i hear about a chiropractor, i hear just as many bad stories about how its not necessary, and how it can really affect you long term. the chiropractor i saw said my muscle imbalance may be a result of working out for a long time either incorectly, or favoring my right side to much.

any thoughs on this? if you need more details, please let me know.

thanks

[Hulkeye]

to add a few more things to this

right now im doing compound exercises, HSST, 5x5, increasing 5 pounds each week, doing bench press, overhead press, squat, deads, and pandaly row. one thing the doctor mentioned was adding more core work which i dont normally do. he also said he will have a few suggestions on changes to my routine to take some of the stress off my lower back

[CF-OC_gal]

I'll be interested in what your outcome is.

[Hulkeye]

ill let you know on Monday afternoon, that is the first of my 3 appointments. im a little nervous to be honest with you. i think im going to sit down with this guy, really explain my routine and my goals, and make sure that he has a full understanding that i would like to continue working out heavy, with compound lifts, on a daily basis. i was also thinking about showing him my technique for some lifts, to see if he has suggestions.

My biggest fear at this point is that he is going to work with me, but tell me that for best results i should ease off the heavy compound lifts and focus more on just maintaining a healthy lifestyle. dont get me wrong, i can do this, but right now im at a point in my life where fitness is not about vanity, its about gaining strength and challenging myself. if i have to ease off heavy and maintain light, easier movements, i can do this, but i dont want to!

[Merrida]

What he did on you were two things: One is called "muscle testing," and the second is "PNF," which while it's a type of stretching (it's how I stretch most of my clients out because you get a greater range of motion than static stretching), it also is used to test your joints (primarily in the hips and spine). You see, depending on when and where you feel pain,...when you resist applied tension, when you move towards or away from the area of pain, are all indicative of: Is the pain related to your joint (in the hips, sacrum, spine) or the muscle/s.

The actual adjustments or manipulations are different.

If you're looking for a good chiro, (being back home) I'd recommend a graduate from Palmer. They tend to have excellent training and background and most though not all (because it would be irresponsible of me to generalize) are not trained in slimy practices.


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[Hulkeye]

so yesterday was my first appointment. i have stopped my current routing, HSST, im looking now for something new, considering crossfit, i have done 2 WOD's so far, i was going to do yesterdays but it involved back extensions and i didnt want to push my back before the appointment, so i did 2 rounds for time, 30 squat (bodyweight, hands up), 30 dips, 30 overhead press (45lb bar only), 30 dead (45lb bar only), 30 push up, 30 curls, ab plans (both sides and front 1 minute each), and crunches. it felt good, im actually pretty sore today. it wasnt that intense, until i realized i wasnt breaking between each exercise and my heart rate sky rocketed, but it was a nice change, and i def feel it today.

anyway, at the appointment we did some more stretching, almost exactly as Merrida describes. my left side was not as strong or responsive as my right. for this appointment, the doctor connected some electro pads to spots on my lower back for a 15 minute muscle stimulation. after ward, we lightly stretched again and did the same resistance movements and my muscles seemed to respond much better. i had an even resistance level from left to right. per the doc, he had to stimulate some of the muscles in my lower back to get them going at a higher rate like the right hand side. i was pleased, i have another appointment next monday, ill keep you posted.