Chirp vs Chiro

Patients have been asking me lately about what my opinion is on the newest form of foam rolling technology, the Chirp. Previously, my only experience so far with it had been the ads I saw explaining how it was the latest and greatest for your spine and that by using it you wouldn’t need to see a chiropractor ever again. 

Obviously, this got my attention. I was skeptical at first but wanted to write out a full review of the product after using it. Below is my review: Chiro vs Chirp.

The Chirp wheel is marketed as the next best solution to rolling out your back pain. First of all, the Chirp is NOT a replacement for chiropractic care. 

While the chirp can provide temporary relief at home it can never replace a chiropractor. Many people who have not seen a chiropractor assume that they just adjust the spine. But many don’t know that before any treatment is rendered chiropractors go through a detailed exam process determining what needs to be adjusted and (more importantly) what doesn’t need to be adjusted. During this examination process, a chiropractor will also often find movement or postural imbalances and abnormalities that need to be addressed to improve that patient’s condition…something that a plastic wheel cannot do. 

The Chirp wheel might feel great and it might actually relieve some of your issues, but those issues will continue to come back unless you know what is going on biomechanically in your body and have someone to teach you ways to fix it. In fact, you may even have areas in your spine that are HYPER-mobile. This means that there is too much movement in that segment of the spine, usually due to the vertebrae above and below not getting enough motion. These hyper-mobile segments are usually the ones that you can consistently “crack” through self-adjusting or foam rolling. It may seem that no matter what you can always get audible releases in those hyper-mobile areas, but never get lasting relief. Sound familiar?

Chiropractors use adjustments to induce movement into areas that they feel to be stuck and work with muscles by doing stretching and strengthening exercises to improve the body as a whole. On the other hand, chiropractors use adjustments to induce movement into areas that they feel to be stuck and work with muscles by doing stretching and strengthening exercises to improve the body as a whole. We take time to investigate what and where the underlying issues are and do our best to address those issues with the tools we have. This is certainly more specific of treatment than rolling up and down the whole back getting as many “pops” and “cracks” as you can.

I don’t want to discredit foam rolling or even the Chirp though. Many times I have given my patient's foam roller exercises that can help with their back pain. In fact, I use a foam roller regularly to address issues that I have in my back. However, sadly due to its design the Chirp can only accommodate one plane of movement, rolling up and down the spine. This limits its use significantly since many foam roller exercises involve sidling positions or using the foam roller on extremities. A foam roller can be used in these different positions and on different parts of the body to not only address issues with joints but also muscles and connective tissue. The Chirp has pigeonholed itself as a foam roller style tool that can only be used on one part of the body in one position. 

Don’t think that the Chirp has no value though. I will say that within this one plane of movement the Chirp performs excellently. It certainly is one of the most comfortable foam rollers out there and more of the most effective at getting that all too satisfying “crack” sound in your back. While it may be the most effective roller for your back, a Chirp can’t be used on the arms, legs, or chest like a normal foam roller can, which to me is a huge drawback. With its limited functionality and versatility and a higher than average price point ($45), I still would recommend to my patients a simple and easy-to-use foam roller most of the time. 

The Verdict

The Chirp wheel is a great tool for rolling out your spine specifically and getting some temporary relief. However, unlike the advertisements, it cannot truly replace a chiropractor or any other physical bodyworker. Also, even though the Chirp is excellent for rolling out the spine, it lacks versatility in use for other structures or body parts.

If you want more information about if the Chirp is the right tool for you and your spine, consider consulting your local chiropractor. They will be able to perform tests to determine if foam rolling would help improve your condition and if so, which parts of the body to foam roll and which ones to avoid.