Is tit tar a scam? How can this chiropractor guy charge RM2k per session?!

You know those random videos on your feed that make you go, Wait a damn second, what am I watching? That’s exactly how we felt seeing this guy twist another dude’s legs and arms, complete with the most bizarrely fascinating ‘Oo oo oo’ sounds. Turns out, this isn’t some backyard WWE audition, it’s Chris Leong, Malaysia’s ‘King of Tit Tar’, who’s doing.. well.. tit tar.

If you didn’t grow up with an Ah Ma or Ah Kong swearing by tit tar, you might be scratching your head right now. Don’t worry, we were clueless too. At first we thought it was some extreme version of Thai massage or maybe a quirky take on physiotherapy.

As it turns out, tit tar is just an old-school Chinese practice of bone-setting, which is pretty similar to chiropractic care where, y’know, they snap and crack your body back into place. But unlike your regular clinic visits, tit tar falls under the broader umbrella of Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM).

Naturally, we got curious and ended up binge-watching more Chris Leong videos (for research, okay?). And honestly, the kungfu theatrics and dramatic sound effects had us both intrigued and skeptical. It all felt a bit too TikTok-y to be entirely legit. And when we heard these treatments can cost RM2k per session, or even allegedly up to RM6.5k?!

Yeah, we had questions. First of all, so damn expensive. And second- just check out these comments people leave on his videos:

Like, you’d think the quality of his work would speak for itself no matter the price, right? But with all the complaints, we figured it was time to get a second opinion from someone grounded in science. Enter John (not his real name), who works in the physiotherapy industry and was willing to walk us through some facts. And fact #1 goes a lil something like…

 

Bone adjustments will for sure feel good, but doesn’t always last

First though you may wonder, why ask someone like John to weigh in on this? Well, it’s because like tit tar or chiropractor care, physiotherapy also focuses on addressing pain, improving mobility, and helping you live your best life without wincing every time you bend down. The key difference lies in their approach.

And before you argue that Chris Leong is the king of tit tar, not chiropractic care, just FYI, he actually calls himself a chiropractor too. Seriously, check his YouTube videos. He’s using those exact keywords.

Now according to John, chiropractors can help get your bones back in place, but that doesn’t mean your stiff legs or misaligned arms are gonna magically start working again. It’s like treating a wound and thinking the infection is gone. Sure, the surface looks better, but there’s still more healing to do.

“Things like tit tar and bone adjustment focus on the alignment. But my question to you is that assuming alignment is already fixed but the muscles surrounding it is weak, what’s gonna happen? The relapse will occur again. That’s why it’s important to make sure the muscles are also strong,” –John (edited by Cilisos for clarity)

And while bone adjustments can work, it can also be a bit… risky. You know that funny trend where people toss their skeletons around to show what it’s like to be a chiropractor?

Yeah, they’re just kidding. You can’t snap your spine like that. Obviously. 😳

“There are some chiropractors we know who have hurt patients because they do not do a proper diagnosis and they thrust with excessive force on the patients… Physios also do bone alignment or bone mobilisation but we do not do that thrusting motion. We do it in a more non-forceful thrust because there are three levels, physios do level 1 and 2, chiropractors are level 3 where it’s a very sudden high force thrust,” –John

Welp, to each their own, but mayhaps this writer won’t be spending thousands just to get her back bent out of shape, even if the odds are small-ish. But anyways, if tit tar and chiropractic care aren’t exactly top-tier on the evidence-based side, then why are people lining up to the moon and coughing up a lung to pay for it? To put it simply…

 

Many see bone setting as a quick fix, but it’s not that simple

Let us (gently) break it down.

John believes that there’s a lack of understanding about physiotherapy and chiropractic care. People see chiropractic care as a fast fix, something that works instantly. Whereas physiotherapy is more of a longer-term commitment, kind of like going to the gym when you’re out of shape. Naturally when faced with the choice, people would rather fast-fast be treated and get on with their day. What they don’t realize is that the fast relief from chiropractic care may not provide the long-term solution they actually need.

“Choosing one of the other is based on perceived relief and perceived value. People like short term fixes, but in reality there’s no short term fix. Chiropractic adjustments have a perceived impression that it offers short term fix and it does, …but [for] long term term solution it is questionable,” –John

Then there’s the cost. Just like when you finally decide to hit the gym, you know one or two sessions won’t cut it if you want real results. John estimates physiotherapy sessions cost RM150 to RM200 each, which sounds okay at first… but over time, that would add up. So when you hear a RM2k chiropractic session can ‘fix’ your backache in one go, it might feel like a bargain. Only, too bad it doesn’t quite work out like that.

Btw, we didn’t just pluck that RM2k out of nowhere. One of Chris Leong’s clients shared in a video that while her session provided instant relief, the pain came back in full force within a week. In the comments, she mentioned that she paid RM2k for that session. Considering the pain wasn’t fully resolved, fixing it would require multiple sessions which, at that price, was just waaaay too much for her.

@peiday

My experience w Master Chris Leong #tittar #backpain #health #doctor #medicine #chrisleong #masterchrisleong #chiro #backpainrelief #diditwork #guess

♬ Banana (feat. Shaggy) [DJ FLe – Minisiren Remix] – Conkarah

And this brings us to a common complaint about Chris Leong: his prices are considered by a number of people to be downright extravagant, some even calling him a scam. We get it. To an extent. Dropping that kind of money is never easy. If you’re someone who feels that kind of cost just doesn’t sit right, then maybe his target audience is a very specific group of people… which, unfortunately, might not include you. 🙁

 

Chris Leong’s prices might be a celebrity rate but where there’s a buyer…

…there’s a seller.

While deep diving into him, we kinda realised that we stumbled onto someone famous. Like really famous. Like possibly the most famousest tit tar/chiropractor in Malaysia.

For those in the know, Chris’s reputation precedes him. You definitely can’t fault the guy for having one helluva marketing team (his socials have a total following of 19.7 million!). And with that kind of reach, well, it comes with a price. It burns holes in our empty pockets to say this but Chris has every right to charge what he wants. From what we can tell after scrolling through thousands of videos, you’re paying for the experience, rather than just any old bone setting.

Case in point: He’s kind of sweet and jokes around and makes his own sound effects to make you think you’re starring in your own blockbuster movie. Maybe. We don’t actually know, but if that’s true, it’s oddly thoughtful of him.

@masterchrisleong

Makcik has been suffering from stiff finger since a year ago #datoserichrisleong #masterchrisleong #TikTokMalaysia #masterchris #treatment #师傅 #health #moment #chrisleong #师父 #马来西亚 #neckpain #malaysia #跌打 #lowerbackpain #laughters #master #relaxing #inspirasiraya

♬ original sound – Chris Leong – Chris Leong

And he’s also a world touring bone-whisperer, stopping here and there to set even a bird’s neck right. Surely you know an  artist chiropractor with his proficiency comes at a hefty sum, right?

By the way, he was arrested in Indonesia in 2019 for violating his tourist visa while doing tit tar treatments. Long story short, he was caught for conducting commercial business, which is a big immigration no-no. After 2 months in detention, he was released and cleared to travel again. As far as scandals go, it’s not the craziest, but it does perhaps paint him in a sort of money-minded light.

In any case, think of Chris Leong as the Uncle Roger Fried Rice of bone-setting. Sure, people know there are other fried rices out there that might be better in value, but everyone still lines up to pay RM20 for a plate because they’re curious. Or they trust him and his services. Or they have FOMO. Or maybe they’re just loaded.

But beyond price tags and perceived notions, there’s one other smol thing we might want to consider…

 

Chiropractic care like all other traditional methods, is rooted in culture

Think about it. If you grew up in a Malaysian household, you’ve probably seen your Ah Kong or nenek turn to traditional remedies before anything else. Tit tar, acupuncture, herbal baths – these aren’t just treatments, they’re traditions. They come with decades, if not centuries, of cultural significance. Chiropractic care, especially when marketed as tit tar, taps into that same trust. It’s not just about fixing bones, it’s about the comfort of something familiar, something that’s ‘always worked’.

When Chris Leong goes full viral mode with his videos, he’s essentially modernizing a traditional practice for today’s audience. And maybe there’s a value there that money can’t buy. So to answer our first question, is it worth splurging thousands for? That depends. If quick relief or a TikTok moment on Chris Leong’s channel is your goal, then maybe he’s your guy. But if you believe in John’s take on things, there’s a bit more to consider.

“The perception of chiropractors is that it offers short term relief… If you’re looking for long term fix you’re going to have to look at your lifestyle, your progressive training, your progressive overload, and you also need to be able to train that person’s mindset to be independent and to be consistent,” –John

Meaning to say, a lasting solution involves more than just cracking bones and hoping for the best. You’ve gotta make lifestyle changes, build better habits, get your head on straight (metaphorically). And if all else fails, there’s always good ol’ minyak angin. Affordable, trusted by Ah Ma, and doesn’t require flying to a chiropractor’s world tour stop.