How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?

We tend to a large number of patients in our Buffalo office, and Buffalo Family Chiropractic Wellness, P. C. has helped many people manage a variety of health challenges. In spite of this, a common issue that seems to stop many folks from getting care is whether or not chiropractic is safe. Well, according to three separate studies (out of many on the issue), the answer to this question is a resounding: "Yes! Chiropractic is safe!"

Chiropractic is Safe, According to Australian Study

The first study(1) was published in Spine and included 183 men and women between the ages of 20 and 85. Each individual was affected by some kind of back pain, and half of the patients received actual chiropractic care visits whereas the remaining patients received two fake chiropractic adjustments. Data was obtained after each real or fake adjustment to identify whether or not any unpleasant negative effects were caused by the real chiropractic adjustments.

The authors reported that none of the patients documented any serious adverse adverse reactions at all after getting one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some people did state that they got a headache (9% of patients) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the effects were not serious.

Large US Survey Finds that Chiropractic Treatments are Safe

A second study(2), also published in the influential publication, Spine, was conducted in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic care. The test group was much larger -- 20,000 people. 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 experts determined the risk of total adverse reactions to be approximately six out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. Plus, just as with the previous study, some individuals did report non-serious, milder, unwanted effects such as dizziness (less than 2%) or a headache (4%), and this caused the researchers to conclude that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."

Chiropractic Treatments are Safe for Kids

This third study(3) is unique from the first two pieces of research, as it concentrates 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 appointments made for the young children, chiropractors answering the survey documented only three cases where there were adverse reactions. 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 these three studies (and many more!), chiropractic has been found to be safe and effective for everyone. To find out what chiropractic therapy can do for you, call our Buffalo office and schedule an appointment today at (716) 854-1563.

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.