Channel 5 Diet Doctors Condoning Chiropractic

[Physiotherapist]

I have just finished watching the second in the new series of Diet Doctors, which has a whole new team of presenters. This team consists of a medical doctor, a nutritionist and now an Australian sports chiropractor - "Dr" Ben King.

It shows him performing 'adjustments' on patients during the programme and advising on the exercise regime to be followed.

Should Channel 5 be condoning the use of chiropractic in this way?

Ben King has a website - www.kingchiropractic.co.uk

[Big Les]

Definitely not. Some stiff letters in order there I think. Especially after Watchdog on the Beeb did their expose on subluxating nincompoops.

[Blue Wode]

Should Channel 5 be condoning the use of chiropractic in this way?


If the chiropractor was sticking to evidence-based manual therapy then he is not in the wrong. However, having looked at his website, it is possible that he is presenting himself as squeaky-clean when, in reality, that might not be the case.

For example, here’s an excerpt from the first page of six FAQs pages on his website which are apparently designed to ‘educate’ the general public about chiropractic:



What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the science, art and philosophy of locating and correcting spinal imbalances (vertebral subluxations) through gentle, specific Chiropractic adjustments thus allowing your body to function at its optimum potential. Chiropractic is drug and surgery-free health care. Chiropractic principles encourage people lead a balanced healthy lifestyle in order to get well and stay well. That includes and positive mental attitude, good diet and proper posture with exercise.

What does a Chiropractor do?

Chiropractors locate and correct the areas of the spine not functioning properly (called a subluxation). The correction is done through a procedure called an adjustment. The word adjustment describes a specific movement that is directed with specific force. This gentle force allows the vertebra to return to a more normal position and movement, allowing the nervous system to work correctly. Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs nor do they perform surgery.

http://www.kingchiropractic.co.uk/html/whatis_faq.htm




Fact: Chiropractic ‘subluxations’ have never been proven to exist.


Some stiff letters in order there I think. Especially after Watchdog on the Beeb did their expose on subluxating nincompoops.


I suspect that that was a bit of a one-off case in which the regulators were forced to act only after the local press picked up on the chiropractor’s dubious practices. You can read the whole story here:
http://www.skeptics.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=554

Regards “subluxating nincompoops”, unfortunately the chiropractic regulatory body in the UK seems to tolerate them despite its Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency clearly stating that “chiropractors’ provision of care must be evidence based”. Indeed, the FAQs page on the regulators’ website [ http://www.gcc-uk.org/page.cfm?page_id=6 ] even gives a weasel-worded description for a (non-existent) chiropractic subluxation. For more on that, and the many other problems with chiropractic, especially in the UK, see this page:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=85046&highlight=chiropractic&page=2

For those not familiar with chiropractic, this article written by John Jackson of UK Skeptics is a good, introductory read:
http://www.skeptics.org.uk/article.php?dir=articles&article=chiropractic.php

[Acleron]

Until following some of the threads in this forum, I though chiropractics were harmless masseurs or osteopaths who dressed their treament in a bit of woo. Now my knowledge has been increased by the good folks on the forum and their impressively educational links I think I see what it is all about.

Complete woo which is dangerous.

The King site at least doesn't proclaim the rejection of vaccines.

The Dr title is also completely false. I know of no other field where the acquiring of an MA allows the use of Dr.

Doctors of Chiropractic complete a 2-3 year Masters degree after completing a 3-year Bachelor of Science degree (medical school prerequisites). (http://www.kingchiropractic.co.uk/html/whatis_faq_1.htm)
Note the '(medical school prerequisites)'. Yes, well GCSE is also a medical school prerequisite.

Perhaps Ben Goldacre or David Calquhoun could take up the cudgels.

[Southwind17]

I suffered with a severe chronic lower back problem when I was in Oz two years ago. Naively, I consulted a chiropractor thinking they were, in the wider sense, general back specialists (if that's not a contradiction!). They referred me for x-rays first, which I thought was commendable, and seemed like a scientific approach. Upon receipt of the slides they identified and showed me some misalignment of the spine, which they claimed could be 'corrected' through a series of 'adjustments'. They happily took my money, but I wasn't so gullible that I commited to a long term program; electing instead to 'pay as you go', even if it would work out more costly in the long term.

After about half a dozen visits I concluded that the teatment was having no effect on the pain I was suffering, so I ceased the treatment and consulted a physio instead. She had her suspicions as to what the diagnosis was, and sent me for an MRI scan. Lo and behold, I had an extruded L3 disk, which if not self-correcting through careful, long-term management can only be cured by surgery, usually by 'fusing' the adjacent vertebrae to form a single, rigid unit.

Suffice to say, the chiropractic treatment was, clearly, complete woo in my case, and I'm sure they'd still be taking my money and watching me suffer if I'd not wisened up. Now I know a little more about what it is, I'm completely sceptical.

Incidentally, I'm happy to report that, whilst my back isn't completely cured three years on, I didn't need to resort to surgery. Whether it will ever get completely better only time will tell.

[NeilC]

Channel 5 are a commercial outfit and so surely free to broadcast what they like.

[Southwind17]

Channel 5 are a commercial outfit and so surely free to broadcast what they like.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong. There are broadcasting standards that Channel 5 has to uphold. It could well be that broadcasting the said program is in breach of those standards in some way.

[NeilC]

What you really think these channels are obliged to only broadcast views and information in line with accepted scientific theory?

[Southwind17]

What you really think these channels are obliged to only broadcast views and information in line with accepted scientific theory?

No.

[NeilC]

BTW if you are of a scientific bent and have a bad back, as I do, then you might very much enjoy and get benefit from Prof. Stuart McGill's "Ultimate Back Fitness & Performance" - evidence led approach to back rehabilitation from one of the world's top spinal mechanics experts. www.backfitpro.com.

It's helping me.

[NeilC]

No.

So what rules would apply then?

[Southwind17]

BTW if you are of a scientific bent and have a bad back, as I do, then you might very much enjoy and get benefit from Prof. Stuart McGill's "Ultimate Back Fitness & Performance" - evidence led approach to back rehabilitation from one of the world's top spinal mechanics experts. www.backfitpro.com.

It's helping me.

Looks interesting - thanks. Bit suspicious about people having those huge furry caterpillars sitting above their top lips though! ;)

[sophia8]

I'm pretty sure you're wrong. There are broadcasting standards that Channel 5 has to uphold. It could well be that broadcasting the said program is in breach of those standards in some way.
All UK TV has to adhere to the OFCOM Broadcasting Code (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/). Unfortunately, the code doesn't explicitly refer to medical matters. The only bit that seems to apply here is Section 2.2:Factual programmes or items or portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience.

[Southwind17]

So what rules would apply then?

Dunno. You'd have to check out said standards, I suppose.

[NeilC]

All UK TV has to adhere to the OFCOM Broadcasting Code (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/). Unfortunately, the code doesn't explicitly refer to medical matters. The only bit that seems to apply here is Section 2.2:

That's pretty broad. And bearing in mind that TV shows routinely mislead people I'm guessing they are not too stringent with this.

[Big Les]

I for one wasn't anticipating that there was any legal or regulatory recourse. But it doesn't hurt to fire off a "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" email!

[Physiotherapist]

Wasn't it Channel 5 that showed The Baby Mind Reader?