Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

If you have suffered pain in the neck or back area as a result of a rear-end car accident or a slip and fall injury, you may consider visiting a chiropractor. As you may contact a lawyer for legal relief, a chiropractor will also help with pain relief. This type of healthcare professional is trained in a non-invasive, drug-free practice to treat conditions impacting the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. These practitioners manipulate the joints to bring them back into alignment. 

A common question one may ask before deciding to see a chiropractor is: Is it safe? Here is more information on the training that chiropractors undergo, results of chiropractic care and rare complications that may arise during treatment. 

Training 

Before acquiring their license, chiropractors typically graduate from a four-year undergraduate program with a pre-med background. Then they complete a chiropractic graduate program, which on average, lasts an additional four years. A chiropractor like one from AmeriWell Clinics completes a variety of courses in their program. Course credits typically consist of a total of 4,200 instructional hours, according to Medical News Today. After completing their education, students studying to be a chiropractor sit for their state licensing board and may also receive additional training in various specialties. This includes, but is not limited to, acupuncture, nutrition, and rehabilitation. 

On average, chiropractors-in-training sit through the same number of classroom hours as aspiring medical doctors, according to the American Chiropractic Association. 

Results

Before deciding for yourself if seeing a chiropractor is safe, it may be helpful to understand the level of patient satisfaction that is reported. 

The American Chiropractic Association states that more than 35 million Americans are treated by a chiropractor annually. The Association also reports that:

• Of these patients, more than three-quarters claim the care was effective. 
• A clinical trial found that taking a strictly medical route for treating lower back pain was less effective in reducing pain than combining medical care with chiropractic care. 
• All other back pain treatments underperformed chiropractic care, including medication therapies, pilates, yoga, and deep-tissue massage.

Risks

While millions of Americans seek chiropractic treatment from practitioners who train for thousands of hours before getting their license, it is not without risk. Sides effects reported after receiving chiropractic treatment include headaches, discomfort in treated areas, and fatigue. Nerve damage in the lower spine, as well as worsening pain, are examples of severe complications that can arise, albeit rarely, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. 

If you are interested in seeking a generally safe, alternative form of pain relief for not only your back but also your neck, shoulders, feet, and elbows, consider setting up an appointment with a local chiropractor today.