Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Generally, chiropractic adjustments are considered to be safe when done by a trained and licensed chiropractor, such as Brad Kern. Chiropractic adjustments are also known as spinal manipulations and are done using small instruments to apply pressure to joints in the spine. There are many medical conditions that can be treated with chiropractic adjustments. While complications are possible, they are extremely rare.
What are Chiropractic Adjustments?
If you’re an individual suffering from back pain, headaches, or joint pain, you may consider seeing a chiropractor. One of the main reasons why people choose to visit a chiropractor for their medical conditions is because it is considered holistic treatment.
Chiropractic adjustments are done to help restore a person’s limited mobility and muscle balance. Treatments can also be used to help reduce stress on the immune system and prevent certain diseases.
Risks & Side Effects
There are certain risks and side effects when receiving chiropractic adjustments including:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Discomfort in areas of the body that were treated
There are also some serious, but rare risks associated with chiropractic adjustments including:
- Cauda equina syndrome, which is a medical condition resulting in pinched nerves in the lower area of the spinal canal. This condition could result in paralysis.
- Stroke
- Aggravation of herniated disks
Benefits & Safety of Chiropractic Care
Research concludes a lot regarding the safety and benefits of chiropractic adjustments for various types of conditions.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a medical condition that affects the sciatic nerve. There are various options to treat sciatic pain including natural therapies, medications, injections, surgery, and exercise.
Research conducted on chiropractic treatment for sciatica shows that active manipulation provides more benefits than stimulated manipulation. Patients who underwent active manipulations had a bigger reduction in their pain and symptoms.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common condition that many people suffer from. It can be the result of poor posture or from muscle stiffness, nerve compression, or spine disease. After receiving 12 weeks of chiropractic treatment for neck pain, patients reported having the largest percentage for reduction of pain compared to other forms of treatment, including medication and exercise.
Headaches
Tension headaches and migraines are also treated by chiropractors because they typically involve the neck. Research has also concluded that chiropractic care can significantly improve tension and migraine headaches.
Low Back Pain
Spinal manipulation is very effective at providing patients with relief from mild to moderate back pain. There have been many studies that show that spinal manipulation is just as effective as other treatments for low back pain, including medication and exercise.
Final Word
As long as your chiropractor is properly trained and licensed, chiropractic care is considered safe for some medical conditions. However, it may not be effective or safe for those that have spine deformities, spine cancer, osteoporosis, and other serious medical conditions.
As with any procedure, patients can expect to experience some mild side effects such as tenderness and soreness in the area treated. But, you should still conduct your own research, including looking for patient reviews and obtaining referrals from your physician.
