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Safety of Treatments
Safety of Treatments
The scientific practice of chiropractic has been well documented as to not only the effectiveness
but also the safety. It is safer than taking muscle relaxants or having back surgery. The New
Zealand report printed in 1979 as a result of a New Zealand government inquiry reported that
chiropractic care is "remarkably safe." The British Medical journal reported on January 23, 1999
on a research study for low back pain that chiropractic is one of the safest forms of treatment
available. The profession is delivering millions of adjustments daily to satisfied patients all
around the world. Chiropractic care is non invasive therefore the bodies response to it is more
predictable than its reactions to drug treatments or surgical conditions. Chiropractic treatment
should only be rendered by a professional with proper training and experience in manipulation
which is a doctor of chiropractic
How safe is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest types of health care in the world. Numerous
studies, including those funded by governments, universities and nonprofit research
institutions, have proven it to be a successful primary therapy for neuromusculoskeletal
conditions -- a therapy that is safer, in fact, than most medical procedures used to treat the
same conditions. Chiropractic is also widely used as a complementary mode of care for a variety
of other conditions and diseases and to promote overall health and well-being.
Is there a connection between stroke and chiropractic treatment?
Would you think twice about cradling the phone on your shoulder, checking your blind spot
while backing into a parking space or getting your hair shampooed at a salon? The risk of stroke
from chiropractic care is no greater than it is from any of these everyday activities.
The source of public concern in this regard is a condition known as vertebral artery syndrome
(VAS), which occurs when sudden head movements disrupt the blood flow in the vertebral
artery, possibly leading to stroke. As the above examples illustrate, the risk of this complication
arising from upper cervical (or neck) manipulation by a chiropractor is extremely remote.
According to the 1996 RAND report, "The Appropriateness of Manipulation and Mobilization of
the Cervical Spine," only one out of every one million chiropractic patients experiences VAS. To
put it another way, you are five times more likely to get hit by lightning than to suffer VAS at the
hands of a chiropractor.
Up to 75% of chiropractic patients receive cervical manipulation as part of their individual
chiropractic care. It may be performed as part of your care for total spinal health and wellness,
or for specific causes such as muscle tension and stiffness, headache or injury. After a detailed
history and examination, if there is any indication that you would be at risk, your chiropractor
will not include a neck adjustment in your treatment.
How does the safety of chiropractic compare to other medical procedures?
In comparison to allopathic medicine, which uses drugs and surgery as an integral part of
treatment, chiropractic presents far less risk. Consider, for example, that in the United States an
estimated 140,000 people die each year from drug-related reactions. And the risk of death due
to gastrointestinal complications from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as
aspirin and ibuprofen is 400 times greater that the complication rate for people who receive
cervical manipulation, while the mortality rate for people who undergo cervical spine surgery is
7,000 times higher.
Human error is another factor that tilts the safety balance in chiropractic's favor. In the United
States, it is estimated that up to 98,000 Americans die yearly from medical errors -- a doctor
accidentally making the wrong incision, a nurse administering the wrong medication, and so on.
But with all forms of treatment, whether allopathic or alternative, any risks, however slight,
should not be ignored. While the methods used by chiropractors have proven to be safe in
almost all cases, it is a constant concern for chiropractors to evaluate their patients to
determine if treatment will cause an adverse reaction.