Chiropractic Adjustments: Benefits, Risks, and What to Ask
Understanding Your Options
Considering chiropractic care and want to understand the risks? This guide looks at common side effects, possible serious complications, and questions to ask before treatment. At Forward Health and Wellness, we encourage an informed discussion about your health history, goals, and treatment options.
Common Side Effects
Temporary soreness, stiffness, or headache can occur after manipulation. Tell your provider if symptoms persist or worsen.
Understanding Serious Risks
Serious complications have been reported, but reliable estimates of their frequency are not available. Discuss your individual risks, benefits, and alternatives with your clinician.
Neck Manipulation and Stroke
Neck manipulation has been associated with cervical artery tears that can lead to stroke. The relationship is still being studied, and the exact risk is uncertain. Patients should be informed of this potential risk before treatment.
Comparing Treatment Options
Each treatment has different benefits and risks. A claim that adjustments are universally safer than medication or surgery does not describe an individual's choices accurately. Discuss alternatives with your healthcare providers.
Before Choosing an Adjustment
A thorough history and examination help a clinician assess whether manipulation is appropriate. Tell your provider about your medical conditions, medications, recent injuries, and new symptoms. Screening cannot eliminate every risk.
Making an Informed Decision
Chiropractic treatment may be one option for some musculoskeletal problems. Make a shared decision based on your health history, the evidence, likely benefits, potential harms, and reasonable alternatives.
Have questions about chiropractic care? Call (214) 506-3029 or book a visit online to discuss your concerns and options at Forward Health and Wellness in Carrollton, TX.
Move Forward.
References
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know. Updated September 2022.
Eriksen, K., Rochester, R. P., & Hurwitz, E. L. (2011). Symptomatic reactions, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction associated with upper cervical chiropractic care: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 12, 219. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-219.
Haldeman, S., Carey, P., Townsend, M., & Papadopoulos, C. (2001). Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic experience. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 165(7), 905–906.