Is Chiropractic Safe?

Treatments employed by chiropractors are statistically safer than many other conservative treatment options (such as ibuprofen and other pain killers).

A research study in the UK, published in 2007 found no serious adverse side effects with neck manipulations across 50,000 treatments.
Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine Thiel/Bolton Spine VOl 32, No 21 2007

What is important to understand is that any association between neck manipulation and stroke is extremely rare. Chiropractic is a very safe form of treatment.
The treatments employed by chiropractors are statistically safer than many other conservative treatment options for mechanical low back or neck pain conditions. Recent research* shows that such an association with stroke may occur once in every 5.85 million adjustments.
*Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2001
Typically, a ‘significant risk’ for any therapeutic intervention is defined as 1 in 10,000.

In a recent study, conducted over a seven year period and published in February 2008, stroke was found to be a very rare event indeed and the risk associated with a visit to a chiropractor appeared to be no different from the risk of a stroke following a visit to a GP.
Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care. J David Cassidy et al. Vol 33 No 45 2008

Stroke is a natural occurring phenomenon, and evidence dictates that a number of key risk factors increase the likelihood of an individual suffering a stroke. Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and family medical histories can all contribute; rarely does a stroke occur in isolation from these factors. Also, stroke symptoms can be similar to that of upper neck pains, stiffness or headaches, conditions for which patients may seek chiropractic treatment. BCA chiropractors are trained to recognise and diagnose these symptoms and advise appropriate mainstream medical care.

Chiropractors are trained to identify risk factors and would not proceed with treatment if there was any doubt as to the patient’s suitability.