Is chiropractic care safe?

Absolutely. Compared to other medical treatments, which include medication and surgery, chiropractic is by far the safest. It is estimated that 140,000 people in the USA die each year from drug-related reactions and nearly 100,000 people die as a result of medical errors. Insurance companies evaluate the risks of all professions, and charge a premium based on the risk the profession poses. Chiropractors have by far the lowest insurance premium of all medical providers. Even though thousands of chiropractic adjustments are made each year, only a few complaints are registered.

What is an adjustment?

A gentle, carefully placed thrust which moves vertebrae into their proper position. The chiropractor usually delivers the adjustment by hand, but occasionally uses other instruments. The purpose of the adjustment is to correct a spinal subluxation.

What is a subluxation?

Subluxation refers to a spinal bone (vertebra) that is not in its right position or not moving in its normal range of motion. Misaligned vertebrae irritate nerves and blood vessels, which in turn affects the way your body communicates with your spine. Subluxation cause many pains and dysfunctions in muscles and organs. The body’s natural ability to heal itself is greatly improved with the subluxation removed.

Does the adjustment hurt?

Most chiropractic adjustments are not only painless, they actually feel great and relieving. In cases of a recent injury, inflamed tissue may react to adjustments and cause some discomfort. Application of ice after treatment may soothe any irritation.

What causes the “cracking” sound during an adjustment?

The sound is no reason to be concerned. The sound is not coming from the bones themselves, but come from a lubricant called synovial fluid that’s found in every joint. This fluid contains dissolved gases. During the adjustment, the joints are slightly separated so they will move into proper position. This releases the built-up pressure on the fluid and gasses and creates a “pop” similar to the release of pressure when the cork comes off a bottle of champagne. Not all patients “pop”, and not all adjusting techniques produce the noise, which means an adjustment can be proper and effective, even if you do not hear any noise.

Will repeated chiropractic adjustments lead to arthritis?

There is no evidence to suggest that manipulation of the spine or other chiropractic care can lead to arthritis. On the contrary, chiropractors often care for people with arthritis by maintaining joint health. Motion is life when it comes to joint health.

Is it safe to crack my neck of back?

This question is often posed to chiropractors, and concern has been raised over safety. While people might have the right idea by trying to relieve pressure on the joints, the “cracking” or “popping” of one’s back or neck is not the same as a chiropractic adjustment. The problem usually keeps coming back, which should be a clear indication that there has been no real adjustment. The cause of the spinal tension, the fixated or jammed vertebra, has not been corrected. Even a chiropractor cannot adjust him/herself. You should not try to do it yourself, either.

Is there a minimum or maximum age for a person to receive chiropractic care?

There is no age excluded from chiropractic acre. Even babies can have subluxations, due to the rigors of birth. In Denmark, for example, chiropractic doctors are part of the birthing team. Children’s subluxations should be treated early, as they interfere with nerves that control developing muscles and organs. Children’s bodies contain cartilage growth centers that the bone grows from. Abnormal stresses on a rapidly developing spine and other bones and joints can cause them to develop abnormally. Your chiropractor can detect these problems while they’re easy to correct.

Can chiropractors refer patients to other specialists?

Chiropractors are part of a network of health-care professionals. Like other doctors, they will make referrals for patients when necessary. Chiropractors are trained to recognize risk factors and signs of disease that are outside their scope of treatment and they will not hesitate to make a referral when it’s in a patient’s best interest.

Can chiropractors prescribe medication or perform surgery?

Chiropractors believe in the body’s ability to heal itself and for that reason they don’t prescribe medication or perform invasive procedures. They focus on providing your body with the right elements for self-restoration by restoring free-flowing communication between all parts of your body.

Should chiropractic care continue even after I feel fine?

Chiropractors are trained to detect problem areas in your spine before they develop into problem conditions or symptoms. Just because symptoms disappear, does not mean your subluxations are corrected. Regular adjustments help to maintain and support a healthy spine and nervous system. Maintenance or wellness spinal care programs, which may include advice on posture, nutrition, and exercise, can effectively prevent pain. However, how you choose to use chiropractic care is ultimately up to you. If your spine wears out, there is no solution. Because your spine directly influences the function of your nervous system, spinal decay permanently damages the nerves and spinal cord. Nearly everyone flosses and brushes their teeth even though their teeth don’t hurt. Spinal adjustments are like flossing the spine. Lifetime care of the spine should be a priority! Chiropractic is Scientific

How do you define “scientific?”

Chiropractic is quite scientific.

It's a scientific fact that your nervous system controls everything.

If you define it as the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment and then testing the resulting hypotheses, then today’s chiropractic is quite scientific. Because it's based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls and regulates virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body

Don't be misled by the "low-tech" nature of chiropractic adjustments! Countless studies support the chiropractic approach to reducing nerve disturbance along the spine, enhancing the ability of the brain and nerve system to control and regulate the body. These include published research documenting the results of chiropractic care on asthma, infantile colic, immune function, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), improving vision and brain function, lower back pain, one's overall health status and many others.
The "scientific" argument is largely a red herring and the sign of a double standard. Medical economist David Eddy, MD, Ph.D., observes that only 15% of medical procedures have ever been scientifically verified, and the other 85% of common medical procedures have no "scientific basis!"

Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. Ask our delighted patients whether chiropractic is scientific.