I've gotten to meet more sub-elite runners in my area and one thing I've noticed is that a lot of them go to podiatrists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. I've heard some talk negatively about Medical Doctors. Do runners tend to believe in quack medicine?
yes
Semaphore Slim wrote:
I've gotten to meet more sub-elite runners in my area and one thing I've noticed is that a lot of them go to podiatrists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. I've heard some talk negatively about Medical Doctors. Do runners tend to believe in quack medicine?
And you think that "medical doctors" doesn't include tons of "quacks"? They are in every aspect of health care, and pseudoscience has $ millions of funding in research, because there is profit in it. Just like "legitimate" athletes who are doping behind the scenes, the profit motive overrides objectivity constantly.
If anything, runners are more likely to see through the BS because many of us are actually out there testing ourselves and monitoring results, which is science unto itself, done properly.
When I got back to running after college and started talking to (fellow) hobby joggers I understood why atheists say that science is a religion.
Racerist wrote:
And you think that "medical doctors" doesn't include tons of "quacks"? They are in every aspect of health care, and pseudoscience has $ millions of funding in research, because there is profit in it. Just like "legitimate" athletes who are doping behind the scenes, the profit motive overrides objectivity constantly.
If anything, runners are more likely to see through the BS because many of us are actually out there testing ourselves and monitoring results, which is science unto itself, done properly.
90% of family practice M.D.'s will tell you "running is bad for your knees" and send you a $700 bill. But before you leave, they'll offer you a painkiller prescription. My doctor neighbor built a beautiful new garage from painkiller commissions.
Medical doctors in general are not very skilled at treating running injuries, so that cynicism is largely justified
It's not just runners; it extends just about every sport.
people are dumb wrote:
When I got back to running after college and started talking to (fellow) hobby joggers I understood why Christians say that science is a religion.
Fixed it for me.
Semaphore Slim wrote:
I've gotten to meet more sub-elite runners in my area and one thing I've noticed is that a lot of them go to podiatrists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. I've heard some talk negatively about Medical Doctors. Do runners tend to believe in quack medicine?
I think the reason that people turn to pseudoscience practitioners is mainly that they have had genuine medical problems that were not handled well or at all by mainstream medicine. For runners, I think this often manifests because being very fit compared to the norm, we are outliers. Often, a runner who is quite unwell will have numbers that fit the "normal range," because the normal range is very wide. If the doctor is competent, they will consider that someone who is fit should have accordingly "good" numbers if they are well. Unfortunately, many doctors lack this competency.
As a result, of being treated badly/ignored, many look for answers outside of the realm of evidence-based practice (chiros, naturopaths etc.). While what these people peddle is mostly BS or common sense, they do actually listen to people in a way doctors often don't. So even if the pseudoscience types can't offer much genuine help, people at least feel validated because they listen and vouch for their work.
My personal experience on the matter is that I figured out on my own after several years of increasingly alarming illness that I most likely had an autoimmune disease, which I've had my whole life. I (or my parents) went to the doctor with all sorts of concerning symptoms, but I was always told it was in my head because no one could believe that a child/adult who was doing such high level sport could actually have a serious health problem. Guess what - I did/do, and if I hadn't taken the initiative to figure it out myself and bring it to them, I'd still be very ill or dead.
Now, instead of going to see some fake doctor, I insisted that the problem was with the human error of medicine, not with science as a institution. I read up on my condition from reputable scientific journals, followed the opinions of medical experts in the field. I also found better doctors and didn't allow the bad ones to dissuade me.
Semaphore Slim wrote:
I've gotten to meet more sub-elite runners in my area and one thing I've noticed is that a lot of them go to podiatrists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. I've heard some talk negatively about Medical Doctors. Do runners tend to believe in quack medicine?
I know financial advisors who will not let mutual fund/hedge fund managers or their salespersons buy them lunch. Said financial advisors do not want to be tainted. I do not know of doctors too proud to turn down food and gifts from pharm salespersons. Much of medicine is a big racket.
The reason why wrote:
I know financial advisors who will not let mutual fund/hedge fund managers or their salespersons buy them lunch. Said financial advisors do not want to be tainted. I do not know of doctors too proud to turn down food and gifts from pharm salespersons. Much of medicine is a big racket.
VA is the exception. MDs at VA do not see pharm salespersons. VA senior management negotiates prices with Big Pharm corporations.
Jamin, I thought you were referring to pseudo-science about training, not medicine.
For the majority of running injuries, the correct treatment and the one recommended by most MDs is to stop running for a while. Runners don't like to hear this and instead will turn to other practitioners that will perform some sort of "active" treatment in the hopes of speeding recovery.
Make America Fast Again wrote:
90% of family practice M.D.'s will tell you "running is bad for your knees" and send you a $700 bill. But before you leave, they'll offer you a painkiller prescription. My doctor neighbor built a beautiful new garage from painkiller commissions.
You still went and filled the prescription.
Also, why do runners in the US tend to see chiropractors over physiotherapists? Is it just because they're cheaper.
Physiotherapists are hands down the most competent at treating running injuries over any other professional.