Is chiropractic care safe?

The answer is overwhelmingly yes! Chiropractic care has enjoyed an exemplary safety record on its climb to being the most used type of health care in the world next to medicine. Properly administered adjustments are well established as a painless and safe procedure for babies, children and adults.

“Money talks” -  When it comes to liability insurance the rates speak loudly as to the risks involved. The more risk involved the higher the premium. An OB/Gyn practitioner may pay anywhere from $30-$70,000 annually. General internal medicine practitioners can pay anywhere from $20-$50,000 annually. Theses figures tell a lot about the potential risk. Chiropractors enjoy a suprisingly low malpractice insurance premium, usually less than $2000 annually. This low premium reflects the unlikely risk of complication.

Chiropractic care is covered by all major health insurance carriers including the federal Medicare program. If there were heavy risks involved this would not be the case!

What are the risks?

The risks to a chiropractic adjustment properly delivered are extremely low. There are however contraindications for certain individuals receiving certain types of adjustments. A trained chiropractor should have ascertained any contraindications during a properly conducted examination and health history.

Can chiropractic care cause strokes?

If an individual is elderly or has poor vascular health there is a possibility that if a rotational style adjustment is applied to the top of the neck the vertebral artery could be ruptured and a stroke could occur. Im my office we refrain from rotational adjustments in all individuals. We feel whilst the risk is minuscule to begin with we can completely take any risk right off the table by not using rotational adjustments at all. I would advise all chiropractors to share the same technical approach since it isn’t necessary to use rotation when other adjustments could be used. It is note worthy to state however that thousands of chiropractors have used rotational adjustments for the entire length of their career without any incidents at all. Many of the reported cases of strokes following chiropractic care were actually strokes that occurred prior to the person seeing the chiropractor. Often after a mild stroke a person will develop a symptom pattern that may include neck and arm pain or dizziness. This leads the patient to seek chiropractic care. The chiropractor may render a trial phase of care to the patient without resolve at which time the chiropractor refers the patient to their medical doctor. The doctor notes the person had been receiving chiropractic care and concludes that the adjustments caused the stroke when it was actually pre-existing.

*All health care applications can result in complications. It is very important to ask your doctor what they are to help determine if you are at a risk.*

By and large chiropractic is established as a champion in helping people to regain their health, avoid surgery, reduce pain, and overall live a healthier life. You can bet your experience with chiropractic will be extremely beneficial and positive. Feel free to comment!!