wesley chapel chiropractor

What is Chiropractic

Patient Information from the American Chiropractic Association

How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic: A Safe Treatment Option


The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiro- practic treatment, but some may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching—similar to what they experience after some forms of exercise—headaches and tiredness. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.1

In addition to being a safe form of treatment, spinal manip- ulation is incredibly effective, getting patients back on their feet faster than traditional medical care. For example, a 2010 study in the medical journal Spine found that patients with acute low back pain who received spinal manipulation achieved equivalent or superior improvement in pain and function when compared with other commonly used inter- ventions, such as physical modalities, medication, educa- tion, or exercise, at short, intermediate and long-term fol- low-up.

Neck Adjustments



are no more likely to suffer a stroke following a chiropractic neck treatment than they are after visiting their primary care medical doctor’s office—and concluded that vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke is a very rare event,4 and that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon.





A comprehensive review of scientific evidence related to neck pain treatments found at least as much evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of common chiropractic treatments, including manipulation, as for other treatments such as prescription and non-prescription drugs and surgery.6


Research Ongoing


How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?



  1. Senstad O, et Frequency and characteristics of side effects of spinal manipulative therapy. Spine 1997 Feb 15;435-440.
  1. Cassidy D, et Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care. Spine 2008; 33:S176–S183.
  1. Haldeman S, et Arterial dissection following cervical manipulation: a chiropractic experience. Can Med Assoc J 2001;165(7):905-06.
  1. Lanas A, et A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:1685–1693.
  1. Lauretti “The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic.” In Daniel Redwood, ed., Contemporary Chiropractic. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1997, p. 230-8.

Hurwitz E, et al. Treatment of neck pain: noninvasive interventions. Spine 2008;33(4S):S123-S152.