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Understanding the Safety of Chiropractic Care

Written By SunCoast SpineCare on June 4, 2018

Is going to the chiropractor safe?

If you have chronic neck or back pain, you may be considering consulting a chiropractor after being disappointed time and again with other treatment options. 

But, you may be wondering about the general safety of chiropractic care.

Looking at the Safety of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care has an excellent track record. You have more of a chance of being harmed or killed by a prescription drug.

Just look at the high number of deaths from prescription medicines along (more than 100,000 per year). Yet, most people don’t think twice about taking a drug that a doctor prescribed.

So why were chiropractors looked at with so much suspicion and distrust? 

We could go into the history of chiropractic medicine and review how certain competitors didn’t want chiropractic in the healing game, but you probably just want to know the current facts.

How Safe is Chiropractic Care?

The American Chiropractic Association is actively involved in promoting research and education to chiropractic safety and effectiveness. The good news is that studies are showing that chiropractic care is not only safe, it is highly effective.

In fact, manual manipulation of the spine is actually more effective than mainstream medical care, including medicines, when treating back and spinal pain. 

Prescription drugs carry risks. Surgery is always risky.

Chiropractic manipulation is drug free and doesn’t involve invasive surgery.

What About the Neck?

One of the scare-mongering stories out there about chiropractic care is that a certain type of neck manipulation could cause a stroke or problem with a vertebral artery.

The evidence suggests that people who are at risk of this very rare complication are much more likely to have a problem with everyday activities such as turning the head to check their blind spot while driving, or even shampooing their hair in a sink.  A February 2008 study published in Spine, a prestigious peer reviewed journal, showed that Medicare patients aged 66 to 99 years with an office visit risk for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, risk of injury to the head, neck, or trunk within 7 days was 76% lower among subjects with a chiropractic office visit than among those who saw a primary care physician. In other words, you have more of a risk of just seeing your primary physician than a chiropractor.

When you compare the risks of chiropractic to that of drugs, even over-the-counter ones like ibuprofen, chiropractic care has an excellent record of safety.

Getting Safe Chiropractic Neurology Care in Bradenton, Florida

At SunCoast SpineCare in Bradenton, we understand you may be apprehensive about receiving your first spinal adjustment. Dr. Jay Schwartz has more than 30 years of experience and is a recognized expert in the field. We would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have about receiving chiropractic care. 


Posted In: Chiropractic