Studies Confirm that Chiropractic is Safe

We tend to a large number of patients in our Agassiz clinic, and Dr. Kevin Henke has helped countless people eliminate a variety of health challenges. In spite of this, a common issue that seems to prevent many men and women from pursuing treatment is whether or not chiropractic care is safe. Well, according to three separate studies (out of many on the issue), the answer to this question is a clear: "Yes! Chiropractic is safe!"

Chiropractic is Safe, According to Australian Study

The first article(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 men and women between the ages of 20 and 85. Each test subject reported affected by spinal pain, and half of the individuals received real chiropractic care while the remaining patients received two fake chiropractic adjustments. Data was collected after each real or fake adjustment to identify if any unfavorable negative effects occurred as a result of the actual chiropractic adjustments.

Researchers found that no participants reported any significant undesirable adverse reactions whatsoever after getting one or two sessions of chiropractic care. Some individuals did state that they experienced a headache (9 percent) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the results were not of a serious nature.

Nationwide Survey Finds that Chiropractic is Safe

A second study(2), also published in the important journal, Spine, was performed in an attempt to ascertain the safety of chiropractic. The study group was much larger as it involved just under 20,000 individuals. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all study participants.

Once again, the investigators found no serious adverse side effects. The experts calculated the risk of total adverse reactions to be approximately 6 out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. And, just as with the first study, some people did report non-serious, milder, side effects such as dizziness (about 1.6%) or a headache (4 out of every 100), and this prompted the authors to determine that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."

Chiropractic Is Safe for Children

This third study(3) is different from the first two reports, as it concentrates on the safety of chiropractic care for children. In this case, the 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 young ones, chiropractors answering the survey reported only three cases where there were adverse side effects. When parents were questioned, 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 care has been deemed safe and effective for everyone. To learn what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Agassiz clinic and schedule an appointment today at (604) 491-1000.

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.