How Safe is Chiropractic?

We care for a large number of patients in our Parma, Middleburg Heights office, and Baker Chiropractic Wellness Center has helped countless people manage a wide array of health challenges. However, one concern that seems to prevent many women and men from getting care is whether or not chiropractic adjustments are safe. Luckily, according to three separate studies (out of quite a few on the topic), the answer to this question is a clear: "Yes! Chiropractic is safe!"

Australian Study: Chiropractic is Safe

The first research paper(1) was published in Spine and included 183 men and women between the ages of 20 and 85. Each person reported affected by spinal pain, and half of the people received actual chiropractic care visits while the other half were given two fake chiropractic adjustments. Data was obtained after each real or fake adjustment to see if any unfavorable reactions occurred as a result of the real chiropractic treatments.

Researchers found that no participants documented any significant unfavorable side effects at all after getting one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some individuals did state that they had a headache (9 percent) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) after treatment, but the effects were not serious.

Nationwide Survey Finds that Chiropractic Adjustments are Safe

A second research study(2), also released in the prestigious publication, Spine, was conducted in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic. The test group was much larger -- 20,000 individuals. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the neck, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all patients.

Once again, the researchers found no serious adverse side effects. The authors determined the risk of total negative effects to be about 6 out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. And, just as with the previous study, some individuals did report non-serious, milder, unwanted effects such as dizziness (16 out of every 1,000 treatment consultations and 15 out of every 1,000 treatment sessions) or a headache (4%), and this prompted the researchers to determine that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."

Chiropractic Care Is Safe for Kids

This third research paper(3) is different from the previous two pieces of research, as it focuses on the safety of chiropractic care for kids. In this article, the researchers analyzed data reported by both chiropractors and parents involving 816 children who participated in 7,173 chiropractic treatment sessions.

Out of 5,438 chiropractic visits made for the kids, chiropractors answering the survey documented only three cases where there were negative side effects. When parents were surveyed, they indicated only two adverse side effects out of 1,735 visits. Furthermore, both chiropractors and parents reported "a high rate of improvement with respect to the children's presenting complaints."

Based on studies like these, chiropractic has been judged safe and effective for everyone. To learn what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Parma, Middleburg Heights office and schedule an appointment today at (440) 888-6979.

References

1. Walker BF, Hebert JJ, Stomski NJ, Clarke BR, Bowden RS, Losco B, French SD. Outcomes of usual chiropractic. The OUCH randomized controlled trial of adverse events. Spine 2013;38(20):1723-9.
2. Thiel HW1, Bolton JE, Docherty S, Portlock JC. Safety of chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine: a prospective national survey. Spine 2007;32(21):2375-8.
3. Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. The safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic: a survey of chiropractors and parents in a practice-based research network. Explore NY 2009;5(5): 290-5.