Reports of serious side effects with chiropractic treatment include herniated discs, fractures, arterial dissection, and stroke. Chiropractic treatments can cause mild and temporary side effects, such as discomfort, stiffness, or headache. Rarely, people also report serious episodes, such as spinal cord injury, arterial dissection, and stroke. Chiropractic treatments may include stretching, applying pressure and manipulations, in which the chiropractor makes a pushing motion on a joint.
Chiropractic treatment may aim to alleviate pain and improve function and mobility. However, more research needs to be done on the safety of chiropractic treatments. These treatments can have potential side effects and risks and, in rare cases, can cause serious complications. People may experience a temporary worsening of pain or discomfort after chiropractic treatment, such as stiffness or pain of head.
These effects are usually mild to moderate and may go away within 24 hours. However, while research suggests that there is a relationship between chiropractic treatments and the risk of arterial dissection, more evidence is needed to demonstrate whether current chiropractic treatments and methods cause arterial dissection. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), pre-existing health conditions can increase the risks of chiropractic treatments. However, more research is needed to accurately estimate the prevalence of serious side effects of chiropractic treatments.
There are no established guidelines for taking action after a chiropractic injury. Insurance may partially or completely cover chiropractic treatment as a complementary health approach. Sudden neck pain and headache may indicate an arterial dissection. If people experience sudden neck pain, stopping chiropractic treatment and seeking emergency help can help prevent serious complications.
This can help prevent a person from undergoing chiropractic treatments that can be potentially dangerous to them. The safety of chiropractic treatments is not yet clear and there is a potential risk of injury. People with existing health problems may be at greater risk of complications. Mild side effects may include a temporary increase in pain or discomfort. Chiropractic manipulation, especially in the neck, still requires more research to understand its safety and if techniques need to be modified to prevent the risk of injury or complications.
Before receiving chiropractic treatment, people must obtain medical authorization from a doctor or their primary care physician and undergo a thorough evaluation and speak with a licensed professional. A new case study warns that certain chiropractic techniques can cause vision problems due to their direct effect on the eye's retina. The ideal frequency of chiropractic adjustments can depend on many factors, such as the reason for the treatment, the person's age and more. The best chiropractic approach for a person may depend on their circumstances and the reason they are receiving treatment.
During the adjustment, you may be asked to lie down on a specially designed table. By placing the hands in precise places and performing controlled movements, the chiropractor works on one joint at a time. This is to help improve movement and ease pain. Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists called chiropractors use their hands or a small instrument to apply controlled force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also called spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and the body's ability to move.
Low back pain, neck pain, and headaches are the most common reasons people seek chiropractic adjustments. You don't need to do anything special before a chiropractic adjustment. During a chiropractic adjustment, most of the time your chiropractor places you in certain poses to treat affected areas. You're likely to lie face down on a special padded chiropractic table.
Using their hands to apply controlled force to a joint, the chiropractor pushes the joint beyond their usual range of motion. You may hear popping or crackling sounds when the chiropractor moves your joints. during the treatment session. Some people have mild side effects for a few days after the chiropractic adjustment.
These may include headaches or pain in the parts of the body that were treated and being tired. Chiropractic adjustments can ease lower back pain. Depending on the cause of your lower back pain, you may need several sessions. Research shows that spinal manipulation works to treat certain types of low back pain.
Some studies also suggest that chiropractic adjustments may work for headaches and other spine-related conditions, such as neck pain. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenues support our nonprofit mission. Donate to our 2025 campaign to cure cancer and transform the way cancer is treated and defeated.
The search strategy located 28 articles that reported a total of 32 case reports (tables 1 and 2). In 22 cases (published in 20 articles), the therapists were chiropractors (table 9 to 28), while in 10 cases (published in nine articles) they were other health professionals (table). The patients were mostly young, healthy people treated for benign and self-limiting conditions, such as neck pain or headache. There was no clear overrepresentation of one sex over another.
Vertebral artery dissection was the most common problem; other complications included dural tear, edema, nerve injury, herniated disc, hematoma and bone fracture. Often, the symptoms were life threatening, although in most cases the patient recovered completely. In most cases, spinal manipulation was considered to be the probable cause of the adverse effect. In conclusion, among Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 with a risk of visiting the office for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, the risk of suffering head, neck or trunk injuries within seven days was 76% lower among subjects who went to a chiropractor's office compared to those who saw a primary care physician. Among subjects who went to a chiropractor, the likelihood of injury increased in those with chronic coagulation defects, inflammatory spondylopathy, osteoporosis, aortic aneurysm and dissection or with prolonged use of anticoagulant therapy.
The man developed neurological injuries after chiropractic treatment on his neck. The patients were predominantly women (average age 39) who had seen a chiropractor for neck pain or headache The therapists involved are mostly chiropractors; this predominance is probably due to the fact that these therapists use spinal manipulation more frequently than other professionals. While chiropractors may request diagnostic imaging techniques, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, they don't usually use them in the early stages of treating spinal problems. Virtually all chiropractors regularly use spinal manipulation to treat low back pain and other musculoskeletal pain.
When the chiropractor made his move, Brandon immediately felt pressure in the middle of his back and a jerk and a sudden burning sensation on the left arm. In nine cases, they were associated with spinal cord injuries (myelopathy, quadriparesis, central cord syndrome, or paraparesis); two patients experienced horsetail syndrome; six patients developed radiculopathy; and three patients had cancer-related pathological fractures that chiropractors could not diagnose. During your first visit to the chiropractor, the chiropractor will draw up a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam to evaluate your condition. During an initial appointment, a chiropractor can perform tests and examinations to develop a treatment plan.
No scientific basis can be found for the treatment of neurological disorders using the technique of cervical manipulation by chiropractors. People can visit a chiropractor for help with various conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, such as neck or back pain. Rarely, more serious side effects, such as a stroke or nerve damage, have been reported; however, these effects are extremely rare, and the benefits of chiropractic care generally outweigh the risks. Chiropractors have opposed this and have pointed out that some of the reported complications are due to manipulation by people without chiropractic qualifications.
Chiropractic is now an established part of the American healthcare system, and some doctors work with chiropractors.
