Is Chiropractic Safe?

We tend to a large number of people in our Rochester Hills, MI clinic, and Dr. Ronda Dalton has helped many people overcome a range of health problems. In spite of this, a frequent concern that seems to prevent many folks from pursuing care is whether or not chiropractic care is 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 article(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 women and men between the ages of 20 and 85. Each person was suffering from spinal pain, and half of the individuals received real chiropractic adjustments whereas the remaining patients were given two fake chiropractic adjustments. Information was collected after each real or fake adjustment to identify if any unfavorable side effects occurred as a result of the real chiropractic adjustments.

The doctors found that none of the patients reported any significant undesirable adverse reactions in any way after receiving one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some participants did report that they got a headache (9 percent) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the effects were not serious.

Nationwide Survey Reports that Chiropractic Adjustments are Safe

The second research study(2), also published in the distinguished journal, Spine, was conducted in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic care. The test group was much larger -- 20,000 patients. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all patients.

Again, the researchers found no serious adverse side effects. The experts determined the risk of total side effects to be approximately six out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. And, just as with the first study, some individuals did report non-serious, milder, side effects such as dizziness (less than 2%) or a headache (4%), and this caused 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 Your Children

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

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

Based on studies like these, chiropractic care has been judged safe and effective for everyone. To find out what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Rochester Hills, MI clinic and make an appointment today at (248) 977-7039.

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.