Is chiropractic a dangerous pseudoscientific scam… or one of the most misunderstood healthcare professions?In this episode of The PTCH Podcast, Dr. Kathy Lynch, DPT grills Dr. Jason Young, DC using real internet criticisms—stroke claims, “quack” accusations, “unregulated” myths, and the whole comment-section greatest hits. We walk through what the research actually says about benefit, risk, and the profession’s messy history—with both supportive and highly critical sources on the table.

🔗 Links & Support the Show🎧 Listen / Watch + Episode Hub: https://ptchpodcast.com🛍️ PTCH Swag Store: https://ptchpodcast.shop/swag🧠 Brain.fm (30-day free trial) — supports the podcast: https://brain.fm/ptchpodcastWhat we coverStroke/VAD claims: what the best population studies show (Cassidy et al., 2008)Effectiveness for low back pain: meta-analysis + guidelines (Paige et al., 2017; Globe et al., 2015)Safety: what systematic reviews and RCT adverse-event monitoring show (Gouveia et al., 2009; Walker et al., 2013; Stevinson & Ernst, 2002)Chiropractic’s crossroads moment: mainstream vs alternative identity (Meeker & Haldeman, 2002; Kaptchuk & Eisenberg, 1998; Homola, 2006; Ernst, 2008)Pragmatic outcomes + cost/economic value in real-world care (Blanchette et al., 2016)Important note: We’re not claiming chiropractic “treats everything.” We’re talking evidence-based scope—especially musculoskeletal pain—and calling out where claims outrun data.🎧 Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts📺 New episodes weeklyReferences (episode reading list)See additional refernces below:Meeker WC, Haldeman S. Chiropractic: A profession at the crossroads of mainstream and alternative medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2002.Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017.Blanchette MA, Stochkendahl MJ, Borges Da Silva R, et al. Effectiveness and economic evaluation of chiropractic care for the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review of pragmatic studies. PLOS ONE. 2016.Kaptchuk TJ, Eisenberg DM. Chiropractic: Origins, controversies, and contributions. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1998.Globe G, Farabaugh RJ, Hawk C, et al. Clinical practice guideline: chiropractic care for low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2015.Gouveia LO, Castanho P, Ferreira JJ. Safety of chiropractic interventions: a systematic review. Spine. 2009.Stevinson C, Ernst E. Risks associated with spinal manipulation. The American Journal of Medicine. 2002.Ernst E. Chiropractic: A critical evaluation. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2008.Walker BF, Hebert JJ, Stomski NJ, et al. Outcomes of usual chiropractic: the OUCH randomized controlled trial of adverse events. Spine. 2013.Homola S. Chiropractic: History and overview of theories and methods. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2006.Key additional reference previously included (stroke/VAD):Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, et al. Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study. Spine. 2008;33(4 Suppl):S176–S183. (Often cited re: VAD/VBA context)Additional “mainstream guideline” reference previously included:Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017.