ARE CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS SAFE?
Nobody wants to be in pain, whether it's in their neck, back, or any other part of their body. Chiropractic adjustments, it turns out, are a tried and true method for relieving this discomfort.
However, when looking for the best pain-relief treatment options for you and your needs, it's always important to consider safe, dependable, evidence-based practices and proven results. Professional chiropractic care is completely safe, gentle, and a natural path to a healthy recovery that does not require any additional medication or drugs.
Let's delve a little deeper.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
The answer is yes. The most important piece of advice we can give to anyone looking for chiropractic care is to make sure the chiropractor they see is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic who employs evidence-based techniques. Techniques that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective are considered evidence-based.
"The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands–or an instrument–to manipulate the body's joints, particularly the spine, to restore or enhance joint function," according to the American Chiropractic Association. Another excellent and risk-free reason to seek chiropractic care is that it is a completely holistic approach to medicine that is more effective than medication.
Chiropractic care, especially when combined with rehab exercises, is intended to restore the body's overall function while reducing pain and preventing future injuries.
What exactly is the Popping Sound?
When a chiropractor adjusts a patient's body, the techniques used may vary, and some patients may be turned off by the strange motions or force-like movements made by chiropractors during an adjustment. Not to mention the possibility of hearing a loud "POP!" sound.
The doctors carefully and strategically apply an appropriate amount of force to just the right spots along your spine that need to be released the most with each adjustment. The natural release of gas within the joints caused by the release of pressure in the spine during an adjustment is a completely healthy response.
However, it is also important to note that not everyone will always experience a "POP" or two, perfectly normal and healthy. More than any popping sounds coming from the body; our doctors are looking for a return of range of motion and mobilization.
ARE THERE RISKS IN CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS?
Rather than relying on drugs or invasive surgery, your chiropractor treats back and neck injuries with physical manipulation using their hands and special instruments. The goal of these procedures is to better align your spine and increase your body's range of motion, allowing your body to perform at its best. Chiropractors devote years of schooling, study, and practice to their profession. There are numerous safeguards in place during the licensure process to ensure that everything they do is by best practices and safety standards.
Instances of further injury resulting from chiropractic are extremely rare, and when they do occur, they are usually the result of a preexisting condition. Severe osteoporosis, spinal cancer, bone abnormalities, and a high risk of stroke are just a few conditions that could put you at unnecessary risk.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION ON PATIENTS?
Almost all of the common side effects of chiropractic care are minor and temporary. Minor discomfort in the areas of the patient's body where the manipulation occurred is not uncommon, particularly around the lumbar spine and neck, and minor headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. In general, the severity of these side effects decreases as patients continue treatment and their bodies adapt to the process of being manipulated. In contrast, nearly all patients who receive chiropractic care, even if they experience minor side effects, report reduced pain and improved health.
ARE CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS SAFER THAN OTHER ALTERNATIVES?
What are the alternatives to chiropractic treatments for pain management? Many patients rely on anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, pain relievers, and even surgery to treat back and neck pain. Is going to the chiropractor a better option than these other options? What is certain is that visiting a chiropractor is no more dangerous than any of the other options. Chiropractic is non-invasive by design, as it does not involve cutting or the use of chemicals to achieve results. Treatments are entirely based on hand or specialized equipment manipulation of the body and are extremely low risk.
Let's compare chiropractic manipulation to various alternative treatments for the same types of pain. Over-the-counter NSAIDs can cause stomach and kidney problems and allergic reactions. Narcotic pain relievers can be extremely addictive. Injections of steroids put patients at risk of infection at the injection site. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, can be extremely expensive and carries risks that are far more serious than those presented by chiropractic care, such as anesthesia reactions, internal bleeding, nerve damage, and, in extreme cases, death.
So, what are our conclusions? When compared to other widely available treatments, chiropractic care is unquestionably one of the safest and most natural ways to treat chronic back and neck pain in your body.
