Veera Gupta Veera Gupta

The Safety and Efficacy of Chiropractic Care: A Comprehensive Overview

It all begins with an idea.

I completely understand the people who are skeptic about chiropractic care, after all I was one of them. My first experience with chiropractic was one of pure fear because my mother got injured by a chiropractor. Taking that bias all the way through college, I worked for a medical defense law firm That also didn’t have a great opinion of Chiropractic.

For me, seeing a chiropractor was an active pure desperation you see I was working in Boston as a paralegal doing medical defense work and I just kept passing out. I went to see a neurologist, he said nothing was wrong with me. He told me that I was stressed. That was even more of a mystery than me passing out because I was 22 years old, single, and having the time of my life partying in Boston. Then went to go see an MD who had no idea what was wrong with me as well, finally when I passed out of the wheel of my car and almost hit the divider, my friend at the time dragged me kicking and screaming to see his father, who affectionately the “”Chiroquactor.”

After seeing a number of doctors, he was the only one who could figure out that the base of my skull, the bone known as the occiput, would go out of alignment and stop me from breathing entirely. He adjusted me just a few times and I never passed out again, his adjustments were so gentle and they involved no cracking at all. I noticed that every time I went to see him all of his patients were so happy to be there and they all had amazing stories just like mine.

Chiropractic saved my life and now I hope to do the same for others through my knowledge and my understanding of both sides of the chiropractic debate.

Chiropractic care has long been a subject of both enthusiasm and skepticism within the medical community and among the general public. With its roots in the late 19th century, chiropractic care primarily focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those related to the spine. As this field has evolved, so has the body of research investigating its safety and efficacy. This blog post delves into the latest peer-reviewed studies to provide a comprehensive overview of how safe and effective chiropractic care truly is.

For those of you who like peer reviewed medical research, provided some of my favorite citations

1. Vohra, S., et al. (2007). "Adverse events associated with pediatric spinal manipulation: A systematic review." *Pediatrics*, 119(1), e275-e283.**

This systematic review investigates the adverse events associated with pediatric spinal manipulation, a common chiropractic practice. The authors conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases to identify relevant studies and reports. They found that while the use of spinal manipulation in children is relatively widespread, the documentation of adverse events is limited, with few rigorous studies available.

The review identified 13 case reports and case series documenting adverse events, ranging from mild to severe. The most commonly reported adverse events were increased pain, headache, and stiffness, but these were generally self-limiting and resolved without long-term consequences. More serious adverse events, such as vertebral artery dissection and paraplegia, were exceedingly rare and often involved underlying risk factors or pre-existing conditions.

The authors conclude that while serious adverse events are rare, the lack of high-quality studies necessitates cautious use of spinal manipulation in pediatric patients. They recommend that chiropractic practitioners conduct thorough assessments and obtain informed consent, particularly when treating children.

2.Cassidy, J. D., et al. (2008). "Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study." *Spine*, 33(4 Suppl), S176-S183.

This study investigates the potential association between chiropractic care and vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke, a rare but serious condition. The authors conducted a population-based case-control and case-crossover study using data from over 100 million person-years in Ontario, Canada. They compared the incidence of VBA stroke in patients who had visited a chiropractor with those who had not.

The study found that the risk of VBA stroke was extremely low in both groups, and there was no significant increase in risk associated with chiropractic care. The authors noted that the apparent association between chiropractic visits and VBA stroke is likely due to patients seeking care for neck pain or headache, which are common symptoms of an impending stroke. Thus, the temporal relationship does not imply causation.

The findings suggest that chiropractic care does not pose a significant risk for VBA stroke. The authors recommend that both healthcare providers and patients be aware of the symptoms of VBA stroke and consider them when seeking or providing treatment. This study provides important evidence supporting the safety of chiropractic care in relation to stroke risk.

3.IGouveia, L. O., et al. (2009). "Safety of chiropractic interventions: a systematic review." *Spine (Phila Pa 1976)*, 34(11), E405-E407.

This systematic review evaluates the safety of chiropractic interventions by analyzing data from clinical trials, case reports, and observational studies. The authors aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the types and frequencies of adverse events associated with chiropractic care. They included 46 studies, encompassing a wide range of chiropractic techniques and patient demographics.

The review found that most adverse events reported in clinical trials were minor and temporary, such as increased pain, stiffness, or mild discomfort. Serious adverse events, such as fractures, dislocations, or neurological impairments, were exceedingly rare. The incidence of these serious events was found to be lower than that associated with other commonly used medical interventions, such as surgery or pharmacotherapy.

The authors conclude that chiropractic care is generally safe, particularly when performed by licensed and trained practitioners. They emphasize the importance of practitioner training and patient assessment in minimizing the risk of adverse events. The review also highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and reporting of adverse events to further enhance the safety profile of chiropractic interventions. This comprehensive analysis supports the conclusion that chiropractic care is a low-risk treatment option for many musculoskeletal conditions.

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