Chiropractic: Safe for Everyone

We tend to a large number of patients in our Corvallis clinic, and Dr. Daniel Lach has helped many people eliminate a range of health problems. However, a frequent issue that seems to stop many people from getting care is whether or not chiropractic adjustments are safe. Well, according to three different studies (out of many on the subject), 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 adults between the ages of 20 and 85. Each test subject reported affected by spinal pain, and half of the people received real chiropractic adjustments while the remaining patients received two fake chiropractic adjustments. Data was obtained after each real or fake adjustment to determine whether or not any unfavorable reactions occurred as a result of the genuine chiropractic adjustments.

The authors reported that no one documented any serious undesirable side effects whatsoever after receiving one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some participants did report that they experienced a headache (9 percent) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the effects were not serious.

Large US Survey Reports that Chiropractic is Safe

A second research study(2), also released in the influential medical journal, Spine, was conducted in an effort to determine the safety of chiropractic. The study group was much larger as it involved just under 20,000 people. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all patients.

Once again, the researchers discovered no serious negative side effects. The experts computed 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 people did report non-serious, milder, unwanted effects such as dizziness (about 1.6%) 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 Kids

This third research paper(3) is unique 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 answering the survey reported only three cases where there were negative side effects. When parents were questioned, 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 has been judged safe and effective for everyone. To learn what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Corvallis clinic and make an appointment today at (541) 754-1947.

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.