Is It Safe?
Safe and Effective
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive
therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is
completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with
chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief
following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or
aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows
that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades
within 24 hours.
therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints.
Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is
completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with
chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief
following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or
aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows
that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades
within 24 hours.
1 in 6 Million...Good Odds?
Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical
manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to
improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral
artery dissection, recent evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care—often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician—but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.
manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to
improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral
artery dissection, recent evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care—often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician—but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.
If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider.
Weigh Your Options
It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.