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Are tailbone adjustments

SITUATION: My PT found it necessary to evaluate my tailbone. This required him to reach down between my buttocks. He said it pointed to the left and was “tucked” under more than normal. His “therapy” was to push it over to the right and then reach under it and pull it from being tucked under.QUESTION: Is this a “normal/standard” procedure.BACKSTORY: I recently started running and begun having pain on the outside area of my lower legs. My friend recommended this PT and so I went in. After his initial evaluation (which did not involve the tailbone check) he thought I might have some lower back issue that was causing the pain. He said I need to go to my General Practitioner for a prescription to have physical therapy and recommended an x-ray. I did as he requested. My GP agreed with the x-ray and suggested an EMG to test if I had any nerve damage in my lower leg. The x-ray came back “normal” and during my first therapy session with the PT he provided pressure to various parts of my ankle (front and sides) to loosen up the muscles in that area. Although the x-ray came back normal, he still felt that my problem could be fixed by also doing some back and hip therapy and would contact my GP for approval to work on these areas.At my second therapy session, my PT did the tailbone check and adjustment.Turns out my friend who recommended me to this PT (and her husband) have both gotten the same tailbone adjustment from this guy, even though all our reasons for going to him were slightly different, but back/leg/running pain related. We are wondering if this guy is getting off on this sort of “therapy” or if this is in fact a “normal/standard” procedure. Thanks for your time and I look forward to your responses.

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1 Comment found

    May PT

    9 10

    He probably went to a continuing education course in regards to tailbone alignment and they probably taught him that all misalignments come from the tailbone, hence him using it on any diagnosis that comes through the door. You could also contact the APTA (the American Physical Therapy Association) if you have concerns that he is practicing inappropiately.

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