Chiropractic Treatment Proven Safe

We help a large number of patients in our Buffalo clinic, and Buffalo Family Chiropractic Wellness, P. C. has helped many people overcome a range of health issues. Even so, one worry that seems to prevent many folks 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 research paper(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 men and women between the ages of 20 and 85. Each person was suffering from spinal pain, and half of the individuals received actual chiropractic care visits whereas the remaining patients received two sham chiropractic treatment sessions. Information was collected after each real or fake adjustment to identify whether or not any unpleasant reactions were caused by the real chiropractic treatments.

The doctors reported that no one documented any significant adverse side effects at all after receiving one or two sessions of chiropractic. Some participants did state that they had 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

The next study(2), also published in the prestigious medical journal, Spine, was done in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic. The study group was much larger -- 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 found no serious adverse side effects. The experts calculated the risk of total side effects to be approximately six out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. And, just as with the previous study, some volunteers 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 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 Care Is Safe for Kids

The third study(3) is unique from the first two reports, as it focuses on the safety of chiropractic care for children. In this article, researchers analyzed results reported by both chiropractors and parents involving 816 children who participated in 7,173 chiropractic treatment sessions.

Out of 5,438 chiropractic visits made for the children, chiropractors responding to the survey documented only three cases where there were adverse reactions. 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 care has been judged safe and effective for everyone. To find out what chiropractic care can do for you, call our Buffalo office and make 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.