How Safe is Chiropractic Care?

Bottom Line:

Safety first. Not only is “do no harm” part of the oath that doctors take, but it’s also a pretty good principle for all of us to live by. No matter how safe you are, there are times when you get hurt or injured, and finding a healthcare option that is safe, provides excellent results, and has high patient satisfaction can be tricky. Or is it? In 2007, SPINE (one of the worlds most respected research journals) looked at data from over 50,000 Chiropractic adjustments given to nearly 20,000 patients, and they found Chiropractic care to be incredibly safe and effective.

Why it Matters:

A pinched nerve in your neck can cause a lot of pain, and it can be tempting to reach for medications to find relief. However, research shows us you may want to contact your Chiropractor before reaching for any pills. The Annals of Internal Medicine found that Chiropractic adjustments provided more pain relief than medications for people suffering from neck pain and the relief was long-lasting. The patients in the study experienced statistically significant relief up to 1 year after the initial treatment!

• Research has shown Chiropractic care to be extremely safe.
• SPINE examined nearly 20,000 patients and found zero complications.
• Up to 85% of people with acute neck pain found relief with Chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

Believe it or not, many people are nervous to start Chiropractic care. The truth is that Chiropractic care is safer than many medications and has far less risk than surgery. Sharing research like this with your friends and family is a great idea. It will inspire them to make a smart decision using the Research That Matters!

Science Sources:

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain- A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 156, 2012
Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. SPINE, Volume 32, 2007
Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 37. 2014
Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care. SPINE, Volume 33. 2008