Chiropractic Care: What Are The Real Risks
Chiropractic Care: Understanding the Results, Risks and Potential Complications
Chiropractic care may seem intimidating, but the actual risks are often overestimated. Our Chiropractors aim to minimise risk by maintaining their professional capability through ongoing professional development and self-reflection. We understand and apply the principles of good clinical governance, risk minimisation and management in practice at all times.
Results May Vary
Chiropractic results may vary from person to person. Chiropractors use a patient-centred approach and are informed by the best available evidence to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
While many patients get results quickly, others find recovery takes longer. Many external factors will affect recovery, including a patient’s age, weight, level of physical activity, etc. Children often respond quickly, while adults with long-standing spinal problems heal more slowly.
Risks & Potential Complications
Our Chiropractors aim to minimise risk by maintaining their professional capability through ongoing professional development and self-reflection. We understand and apply the principles of good clinical governance, risk minimisation and management in practice at all times.
Reactions to spinal adjustments are common and generally benign – they typically arise and disappear shortly after treatment (usually the day after treatment). In a 1997 study of 625 patients who had recorded 1,858 visits (Leboeuf-Yde et al, 1997), the key reactions were outlined as follows:
· Local discomfort in the surrounding area (two-thirds of the reactions)
· Pain in other areas (10%)
· Headaches or Fatigue (10%)
· Nausea, dizziness or other reactions are uncommonly reported (<5% each)
A 2010 UK report (Clar et al. 2014) indicated that fewer than one in a million patient visits results in a severe adverse event during lumbar spine manipulation. However, this report suggested the need for further study.
A systematic review of studies on adverse events related to chiropractic care found that common side effects include muscle soreness, neck pain, back pain, stiffness, dizziness, and headaches, which typically resolve within 24 to 72 hours post-manipulation (Grabowska et al. 2022).
A recent review of 2019 by Safer Care Victoria reported that “there were no patient complaints or practitioner notifications that arose from significant harm to a child following spinal manipulation”. In the review, 21,824 submissions were received from members of the public, this was the most public submissions ever received for ANY public stakeholder engagement, and “99.7% of responses reported a positive response to chiropractic care of their children”.
The literature review performed by Safe Care Review revealed that “the potential risk of harm from spinal manipulation in children was rare, and when it did occur, was typically minor in severity”. Out of almost 22,043 responses, there were little to no side effects (two mild side effects were identified, including a little bruising on an older child and another child who was a little more restless). There was no evidence of harm in Australia. Parents stated that the care provided was safe and had no adverse events.
‘Red Flags’ in Chiropractic Care
Where certain medical conditions are present, Chiropractic care may be inadvisable as it could present a higher risk of harm. These “red flags” include:
· Severe osteoporosis (a disease causing fragile bones)
· Multiple myeloma (a cancer affecting plasma cells)
· Osteomyelitis (spinal bone infection)
· Bone tumours (benign or malignant)
· Paget’s disease (causes bone deformities or fractures)
· Progressive or sudden neurologic conditions, such as cauda equina syndrome
Other conditions may require risk management strategies, such as modification of chiropractic techniques or low-force instruments. These include:
Conditions causing unstable joints, such as joint infections or inflammatory diseases like:
· Rheumatoid arthritis
· Ankylosing spondylitis
· Psoriatic arthritis
· Reactive arthritis
Bleeding disorders and structural instability are also red flags.
Many Effective Options to Choose
Chiropractors often use a multimodal approach, integrating treatments like massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and supervised rehabilitation exercises into a personalised care program.
Chiropractors will also frequently collaborate with a patient’s primary doctor to ensure optimal treatment, particularly for conditions like cancer-related or post-surgical pain.
A Chiropractor’s Training & Our Team
Chiropractors are five-year university-educated healthcare professionals equipped with expertise that enables them to tailor appropriate care for people of all ages. We are confident you will find the experience at Chiropractic Life to mirror these research findings. We look forward to welcoming your family to our community of people looking for natural ways to support their families’ health.
References
1. Leboeuf-Yde C, Hennius B, Rudberg E, Leufvenmark P, Thunman M. Side effects of chiropractic treatment: a prospective study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997 Oct;20(8):511-5. PMID: 9345679.
2. Grabowska, W., Burton, W., Kowalski, M.H. et al. A systematic review of chiropractic care for fall prevention: rationale, state of the evidence, and recommendations for future research. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 23, 844 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05783-y
3. Clar C, Tsertsvadze A, Court R, Hundt GL, Clarke A, Sutcliffe P. Clinical effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic review and update of UK evidence report. Chiropr Man Therap. 2014 Mar 28;22(1):12. doi: 10.1186/2045-709X-22-12. PMID: 24679336; PMCID: PMC3997823.
4. Australian Chiropractors Association Press Release, 13th June 2024 99.6% of Australian parents affirmed chiropractic healthcare benefitted their child
5. Todd, A. J., Carroll, M. T., & Mitchell, E. K. L. (2016). Forces of Commonly Used Chiropractic Techniques for Children: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 39(6), 401-410. https://doi.org/f5z7
6. Keating, G.M., 2021. Do Children in Australia Benefit from Chiropractic Care? (Doctoral dissertation, Fielding Graduate University).
7. Safer Care Victoria. (2019). Chiropractic spinal manipulation of children under 12 – Independent review.