Therefore, the conclusion must be that, according to the evidence to date, chiropractic manipulation of the spine is not demonstrable to do more good than harm. In view of the incompleteness of our current knowledge and the popularity of chiropractic, research in this complex area must be intensified. There is now a lot of evidence showing that more than half of all patients experience mild to moderate adverse effects after seeing a chiropractor. These are mostly local and referred pains that usually last two to three days.
Chiropractors often claim that these are necessary steps on the path to improvement. On a good day, we might even believe them. Fortunately, however, most chiropractors are well-trained and able to tell that a bone is fractured or broken simply by listening to patient complaints and doing a quick examination of an area. Millions of people each year seek chiropractor care for a wide range of different reasons, from back pain to headache relief.
For more information about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gainesville, Ga. Chiropractic had just worked on Lynne Beliveau's neck when she became dizzy, unable to see or move. If you're thinking of visiting a chiropractor, visit The Joint Chiropractic for chiropractors you can trust at an affordable price. Wade Smith, a neurologist and one of the authors of a 2003 study that found chiropractic manipulation to be an independent risk factor for stroke, said chiropractors should warn people, even if the risk is small.
A chiropractor is returning the body to its original, normal, and proper alignment so that it can function the way the body should work. But one of the techniques chiropractors use, called cervical neck manipulation or “neck cracking,” has raised concerns that it could cause serious harm. A chiropractor first draws up the medical history, performs a physical exam, and can use laboratory tests or diagnostic images to determine if treatment is right for your back pain. Approximately 20 million Americans visit chiropractors each year, according to the American Chiropractic Association, seeking relief from back pain, neck pain, headaches, sinus problems, ringing in the ears, and more.
Chiropractors rely heavily on manipulation of their patients' spine and the benefits are not entirely clear. Chiropractors target the spine using manipulations to correct any restrictions and help the body function better. This ethical imperative means that chiropractors must inform their patients, first, of the very limited evidence that spinal manipulations are effective; second, about the possibility of causing serious harm; and third, about other treatments that could be better. The answer to this is usually no, but there are some times when a chiropractor could do more harm than good.
Elizabeth Haran Caplan knew she was in trouble seconds after a chiropractor in Oklahoma City manipulated her neck. Studies have not confirmed the effectiveness of prolotherapy or sclerotherapy for pain relief, used by some chiropractors, osteopaths and doctors, to treat chronic back pain, the type of pain that can come on suddenly or gradually and lasts more than three months.
