Is Chiropractic Safe?

A number of people in Arlington, WA have never seen a chiropractor, and if you've never received a chiropractic adjustment, you probably have a few questions about how chiropractic works and how it can help you improve your overall health.

A common question we hear from new patients is: "Is chiropractic safe for my family?"

First of all, there are about 60,000 chiropractic physicians in the United States and they see about 30 million patients. If each patient sees their chiropractor three times a year, that's about 90 million adjustments each year in the US. If chiropractic care wasn't safe, we'd certainly be learning about it the news.

Second, there's real scientific research that shows that chiropractic is safe. The prominent medical journal Spine published an article in 2013 that examined 183 people in Australia. 92 patients received two chiropractic adjustments each; the other 91 patients received a sham adjustment. The investigators had all of the study participants submit a questionnaire inquiring about any side effects that they might have encountered.

The doctors observed that there were "no serious adverse events" from chiropractic care. Some individuals did document muscle stiffness or a slight increase in pain right after the adjustment, but these were transitory.

Even the AMA suggests that patients see a chiropractor before considering more invasive treatment, like surgery. In 2013, the Canadian Family Physician recommended chiropractic care for pregnant women who want to avoid drugs. Furthermore, many of our patients bring their children in for chiropractic care and some studies have shown that it can be beneficial for colic in babies.

We've treated thousands of your neighbors in Arlington, WA and we'd like to help you, too! Give our office a call today at (360) 659-8464 for a consultation or appointment.