Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

Chiropractic care is widely regarded as safe when practiced by licensed and trained professionals. For most patients, chiropractic adjustments provide a non-invasive way to alleviate pain and improve function, making it an appealing alternative to medications or surgery. When performed correctly, spinal adjustments rarely result in severe complications. However, like any medical treatment, chiropractic care can have some mild, short-term side effects, such as soreness, stiffness, or fatigue after an adjustment. These effects are generally temporary and often resolve within a few hours to a couple of days. 

One of the reasons chiropractic care is considered safe is its focus on precise, controlled movements that target specific problem areas. Licensed chiropractors are safe because they receive extensive training to ensure they perform precise, effective adjustments tailored to each patient’s needs. This patient-specific approach helps minimize risks and optimize outcomes. For individuals with certain conditions, such as osteoporosis, spinal instability, or other serious health issues, chiropractors will typically assess the patient’s overall health and discuss potential limitations. They may also recommend alternative therapies if spinal manipulation is unsuitable.

What Are the Benefits and Risks of Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care and spinal manipulation are widely considered as safe treatments within the medical professional community. Research has shown promising results in the treatment’s ability to alleviate low back pain as well as neck pain and headaches. Some research also suggests that osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia can improve with moderate pressure applied by chiropractors and practitioners of deep tissue massage techniques. 

What Does the Research Show?

Numerous studies show the benefits of chiropractic care. It treats a wide range of conditions including the following: 

Sciatica 

Sciatica is a type of back pain that affects the sciatic nerve- a nerve running from the lower back down the leg, and into the feet. Other therapies are invasive, such as steroid injections or surgery. In these cases, you should consider the benefits of chiropractic care. 

The Spine Journal conducted a double-blind study comparing active and simulated chiropractic manipulations in people suffering from sciatica. The patients who received active manipulations reported fewer days of moderate or severe pain and other sciatica symptoms. There were also no reported adverse effects in the active group. 

Neck Pain

The neck is a very sensitive area, and it’s understandable if there is some trepidation surrounding neck adjustments. However, neck adjustments are safe.
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine studied the different therapies for treating neck pain by dividing 227 participants into three groups: one that received spinal manipulations, one that received over-the-counter OTC pain relievers, and a third that only did at-home exercises. 

After 12 weeks, all three groups reported pain reduction, but the participants who received the spinal manipulation reported the most promising results — neck adjustments are included as part of spinal manipulation. 

Headaches 

Chiropractors commonly treat headaches and migraines. Cervicogenic headaches are often referred to as secondary headaches because the pain emanates from another source, the neck. Migraine headaches are headaches most people experience on one side of the head. Research reported in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics suggested spinal manipulation can improve both cervicogenic and migraine headaches. 

Low Back Pain 

Many studies have shown evidence that spinal manipulation can provide relief from both mild and moderate low back pain. In other studies, spinal manipulation has been compared to other standard treatments, including exercise and pain relief medications. 

A 2011 review of 26 trials found that spinal manipulation may be as effective as other treatments, such as exercise, for reducing pain and improving function. Though further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of spinal manipulations, the preliminary results are encouraging. 

Are There Side Effects to Chiropractic Adjustments?

Side effects of chiropractic care vary. Some people report a feeling of deep relaxation, which can cause unusually enjoyable sleep. However, this initial reaction isn’t sustained. You can also feel warmth flowing throughout the body. For others, chiropractic care can cause a boost in energy. 

Some adverse reactions occurring from chiropractic care include the following: 

• Discomfort
• Muscle soreness
• Minor pain
• Headaches 

Some patients experience adverse effects, including detoxification, muscle realignment to the spine, and decompression of your nerves. 

Chiropractic care should never result in severe complications. However, because it involves spinal manipulation, you should only use a licensed chiropractor to conduct your assessments and manual adjustments. 

Who Benefits from Chiropractic Care?

People might mistakenly believe that chiropractic care is only for people who suffer from back pain. However, chiropractic care can treat a wide range of painful conditions such as those affecting the foot, elbow, shoulder, and neck. The following are some examples of what chiropractic care can provide. 

Reduces Reliance on Opioid Painkillers

People with chronic pain often receive prescriptions for painkillers that help manage their discomfort. Undergoing chiropractic care can reduce your need to take painkillers. 

An extensive 2020 study compared the number of prescription pain relievers received by those undergoing chiropractic treatment to those received from people not undergoing chiropractic treatment. They found that adults who visited the chiropractor were less likely to get an opioid prescription filled than those who didn’t receive chiropractic treatment. 

Possible Reaction of Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Cartilage degeneration in joints causes the ends of your bones to rub together. Specific types of chiropractic adjustments can help align your joints and reduce the friction between your joints and bones. 

More research is needed to determine the benefits of spinal manipulation for osteoarthritis. Notably, however, a 2020 animal study found some evidence suggesting chiropractic manipulation can slow the progression of arthritis and improve cartilage, bone, and the joint capsule. 

Reduces Scoliosis Symptoms 

Chiropractic care potentially cures the Cobb angle of people with scoliosis. The Cobb angle refers to the angle of how much the spine curves in scoliosis patients. A 2016 study found the Cobb angle in a group of five children diagnosed with scoliosis improved after eight weeks of chiropractic treatment. There were also noticeable improvements after four weeks of treatment. 

Safe Chiropractic Adjustments in Denver

Though more definitive research is needed, the preliminary research and the predominant mood among the medical community is that chiropractic adjustments are effective in treating a wide variety of ailments including chronic neck and back pain as well as headaches. 

The Chiropractors at Governor’s Park Chiropractic Care are here for you if you suffer from neck and back pain. Most of these cases don’t require opiates or surgery. 

Contact us today if you struggle with acute or chronic back or neck pain and we can formulate a comprehensive treatment plan for your condition.