My company had it’s health fair today, which as health fairs go, was a pretty good one. They gave us the option to have a free blood panel performed.
So coming back from this thing, I have questions…probably should start a new thread for each, but I don’t want to spam the board, so I’ll just lump them all together.
Blood panel showed everything was withing range (well alkaline phosphatase was below spec, but that’s fine), but I noticed my Iron levels were on the low side:
While within range for ‘normal’ person, the saturation was only 1 point off the low mark. Now I did some looking around and it seems low iron levels are common in endurance athletes from higher red cell turnover rates as well as plasma expansion. Do these numbers fall in line with that or do they point towards not enough iron in my diet?
Talked to a chiro who did this electro muscle tension thing (and after giving me a huge wedgie un-tucking my shirt) said that he observed high levels of tension in my lower back (higher on one side) and that I wasn’t engaging those muscles when I run. Of course, for an initial consult visit at $175 then weekly treatments, I will be running faster then ever (in 6 weeks). Now I’ve always been a little sceptical about chiros, especially ones that hook you up to a machine and tell you they can sell you speed. So I guess I have 2 questions here: Does this sound plausible, and would normal core work take care of it? Do you find chiro ‘adjustments’ to be benefitial?
They did a body composition analysis which involved one of those body fat measuing scale things (although it looked like it was clinical grade). Anyway, it came back as 6.7% body fat. Anyone know how accurate these things are and if that is % by mass? I’m trying to get down to race weight, which I’m thinking will be around 4%. Since I’m 146 right now, would that mean that I would need to shoot for 141, or should I just be thankfull I’m at 6.7% and leave it alone?
Sounds alittle fishy to me…How can he tell what you fire when running. Doesn’t real sound like a real exam and eval. Health fairs are notorious for chiros to do minimal testing and then rec. you come see them. (I wonder how many people that they see do they say that they need to treat them??)
The most accurate way to measure body fat is with hydrostatic weighing, calipers are second best (provided the person using them knows what they’re doing), oh wait a DEXA scan might be second best, anyway, body-fat-scales do something silly with electrical current and the reading you get can differ based on how hydrated you are - they are thus useful if you use it consistently on your own under the same conditions but one reading, there’s a couple % error either way so call your 6.7% good enough.
Muscle tension thing, have never heard of. Maybe you just need to stretch or get a massage. If he didn’t watch you run, wait a sec that doesn’t matter, back muscles are just there for support. I can make you faster in 6 weeks too, I’ll even tell you how for free! run more
yea, I wasn’t buying into his whole ‘system’ either…although he was taking credit for (in his words) ‘that guy who won the 5430 last year’. I was more curious about chiro in general. I’ve never used one, I’ve always thought they were sort of fishy, but my wife swears by it.
the basic principles of chiropractic medicine is complete bunk. that doesn’t mean they haven’t figured out some ways to pop your back joints to relieve pain (temporarily) though.
My company had it’s health fair today, which as health fairs go, was a pretty good one. They gave us the option to have a free blood panel performed.
So coming back from this thing, I have questions…probably should start a new thread for each, but I don’t want to spam the board, so I’ll just lump them all together.
Blood panel showed everything was withing range (well alkaline phosphatase was below spec, but that’s fine), but I noticed my Iron levels were on the low side:
While within range for ‘normal’ person, the saturation was only 1 point off the low mark. Now I did some looking around and it seems low iron levels are common in endurance athletes from higher red cell turnover rates as well as plasma expansion. Do these numbers fall in line with that or do they point towards not enough iron in my diet?
Talked to a chiro who did this electro muscle tension thing (and after giving me a huge wedgie un-tucking my shirt) said that he observed high levels of tension in my lower back (higher on one side) and that I wasn’t engaging those muscles when I run. Of course, for an initial consult visit at $175 then weekly treatments, I will be running faster then ever (in 6 weeks). Now I’ve always been a little sceptical about chiros, especially ones that hook you up to a machine and tell you they can sell you speed. So I guess I have 2 questions here: Does this sound plausible, and would normal core work take care of it? Do you find chiro ‘adjustments’ to be benefitial?
They did a body composition analysis which involved one of those body fat measuing scale things (although it looked like it was clinical grade). Anyway, it came back as 6.7% body fat. Anyone know how accurate these things are and if that is % by mass? I’m trying to get down to race weight, which I’m thinking will be around 4%. Since I’m 146 right now, would that mean that I would need to shoot for 141, or should I just be thankfull I’m at 6.7% and leave it alone?
I am a chiro and have no idea what machine he was using to test you or how valid it is, but it does sound suspect. Yes chiro adjustments can be very beneficial for pain syndromes and to correct abnormal biomechanics, but it’s a pretty big claim when he says you’ll automatically be a better runner in six weeks through his treatments.
You should have asked for a money back guarantee if your 10 km times don’t drop after six weeks.
Body Fat: there is no truly accurate way of measuring body fat, and as noted above the 6.7 % is fine. I would not focus on losing body fat and focus on fueling properly to support your training. People are different - but most endurance athletes (males) do not perform best when dropping under ~6% body fat. Everyone thinks it is 3%, but simply not true.
So far as the Chiropractor. Nonsense. In fast, the chiropractic industry is not a scientifically valid practice as a whole. They hide behind pseudo-scientific claims of there results but seldom put themselves forward for proper peer-reviewed studies. I have no doubt some chiropractic work may be effective for some people (for various reasons)… but a claim, in a setting like this, should be viewed with suspicion.
In general I recommend some excellent websites to help you think about things like this:
There are a variety of those machines on the market. They seek to measure differences in muscle tension between the muscles on each side of the spine. While they do print out some “neat” looking pictures they are not really diagnostic. They tell you nothing of the cause of these differences in muscle tension, for example do you have an injury that is causing you to overcompensate on one side, do you have any biomechanical issues that contribute to this imbalance, etc?
So while they do generate some interest at health fairs and things like that, I would make sure there is an actual thorough history and physical examination, that hopefully looks at your gait/biomechanics, etc if that is what he is saying he can help you with.
If there is some restricted motion in your joints then yes, the adjustments will be beneficial.
Those body composition scales are notoriously inaccurate and the values they give can be affected by your hydration status.
I’d love to tell some people on this board to F off.
That being said, I can understand where your frustrations/hatred comes from. I’m a chiro myself and WILL ADMIT, there are plenty of wackos out there. This pisses me off too.
However, there are crazies in every single profession. For some, the basic principles/philosophies of chiro are golden, for others, they’re outdated.
I urge you and many others to seek out chiros who are more contemporary and sport focused. You’ll likely find a few legit ones in your search.
But to answer the original question…that guy is probably “bunk”…hehe
I realize a lot of chiros have just morphed into massage therapists and physical therapy coaches, and that’s fine.
But let us not forget that the principals of chiropractic medicine, are insane, and if chiros wish to be taken seriously, they should admit this and cast them away.
However, there are crazies in every single profession. For some, the basic principles/philosophies of chiro are golden, for others, they’re outdated.
I urge you and many others to seek out chiros who are more contemporary and sport focused. You’ll likely find a few legit ones in your search.
What would the basic principles of chiropractic work be? There are two forms as I understand it - the original thought of adjustment and energy release and the more updated for of manual adjustment / manipulation. Interested what you mean.
I have nothing against Chiropractic practitioners, but would like to see some peer reviewed evidence on the effect of their work. I know many people who have benefited from C work - but would like to see evidence based review for effects. Without that it falls into a similar category as homeopathy…
I was on the rollers training, like you should be!
You were probably put on a Myovison or similar which is surface EMG.
You will probably look like the picture on the right, and the promise will be to get you “ideal” through a course of treatment.
Don’t fall for it, its smoke and mirrors.
I was on the rollers training, like you should be!
You were probably put on a Myovison or similar which is surface EMG.
You will probably look like the picture on the right, and the promise will be to get you “ideal” through a course of treatment.
Don’t fall for it, its smoke and mirrors.
that’s exactly what it was. Same figure and everything.
wow…didn’t think this would focus so much on the chiro aspect. What about the iron levels? Normal plasma expansion or is this an excuse to eat more steak?
I and my family go to the chiro weekly. The key is to find someone that understands competitive athletes, their bodies, and biomechanics. Another important trait is that they are willing to work with other doctors - general MDs, podiatrist and don’t promote chiro as the complete cure-all. Our chiro was a competitive racquetball player and college gymnast and is a wealth of information for any ailments. If your foot hits the ground 1700+ times per mile, it makes sense that even the slightest miss-alignment will have great negative impact. Lance uses a chiro, as well as many professional track & field stars. I’ve been going since 2003.
Sorry the blood results are not my area of expertise.
Judging by the quality of chiropractors in the so called “health fair”, I would suspect that these blood tests were not done by a Physician and a qualified lab (correct me if I am wrong).
Anyhoo, I would express concern with the organizers of the fair, as bringing in chiro’s who practice in this manner is not in your (or other employees) best interests.
Martin
Had this done several years ago. Obviously, this shows my spine has slight curvatures and that needs to be maniputed - right? Yeah so the sheet of paper right behind this one was the “payment plan” and packages sheet - it was at that point I realize this chiro was not for me! Sounds like you’re getting a very similar experience. Good luck.
My girlfriend told me to tell you off. As a PT she had to actually get a degree, additional training, CEU’s to maintain her license and is considered a medical professional. In Illinois however (I know it is not the same in all states) - most Chiro do Chiro, Herbal Pills, Snake Oils sales and on and on and on. One even claims that “Chiropractic and TIME can cure infant bed wetting”…uh huh.
Then we got the local Chiro who LOST his ability to practice medicine as he was a crooked MD…now he is just a crooked Chiro (and has forign trained MD’s in his clinic doing medical weight loss). Illinois for one needs better regulation on the claims the Chiros make.
i suspect the blood tests were valid. They drew the tubes a few weeks back and it appeared to be contracted through a real lab.
It’s interesting how many ‘snake oil’ types flock to Boulder selling stuff under the ‘natural’ guise.
For the locals: I have been having a decent amount of back stiffness/soreness throughout my entire lower back, shoulders and neck. Would this be better suited for a massage therapist or a “good chiro”. Either way, any particular places I should look into?
