Chiropractic Methods
It is often reported that chiropractic methods "work"
in the sense that people report a genuine improvement in some
condition - usually lower back pain - after treatment by a chiropractor.
Given that, we can ask if this improvement is actually the result
of specifically chiropractic methods, based on chiropractic
theory, or was it the result of some other kind of treatment.
To
answer this question, you should:
1. Explain the reported
improvement as you understand it. What were the patient's symptoms
before treatment? What improvement was noticed after treatment?
2.
Explain in sufficient detail what chiropractic theory says is
the cause of such symptoms.
3. Explain the treatment
that chiropractic theory implies is the best way to relieve
those symptoms. (Call this "chiropractic treatment.")
4.
As best you can, lay out some treatments that other practicioners
might use. What kinds of things might a medical doctor do? ("medical
treatment.") A physiotherapist ("physiotherapy"),
or a Voodoun priest (Voodoo therapy"), or any other kind
of treatment you might think of. (Remember that a term like
"manipulation therapy" might have a different
meaning from a term like "chiropractic adjustment.")
5.
As best you can, determine what exactly was done to the patient
that relieved her symptoms.
6. Answer the question "what
would have to be true in order for the relief of pain following
intervention by a chiropractor to count as credible evidence
in favor of chiropractic theory?" (This is a difficult
and crucial question, so you might want to spend a bit of time
on it.)
7. Finally, as best you can, say whether or not
you think the facts you've discussed so far really do support
the claim that specifically chiropactic methods based on chiropractic
theory (rather than some other methods based on some other theory)
really do relieve the symptoms you've described
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