Chiropractic has a strong safety track record and is widely accepted as a drug-free, surgery-free therapy for reducing pain and improving mobility.

While any form of health treatment contains a degree of inherent risk, there is little danger in chiropractic. In fact, the most common risk associated with chiropractic treatment is mild muscle soreness. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.

There is considerable research into many aspects of chiropractic care that support its effectiveness for problems such as headache, neck pain and back pain.

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. The goal ofcervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, is to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm. This helps relieve pain and muscular tension, which can cause or contribute to headaches.

Millions of neck adjustments are performed safely and effectively every year in the United States. Although there have been some isolated media reports of stroke following chiropractic neck manipulation, the findings in the current research literature agree that adverse events such as stroke or stroke-like symptoms associated with neck adjustment are very rare. For example, a medical review published in 2002 looked at 73 studies of chiropractic care and found no serious complications reported in any of them. Studies have also shown that when an adverse reaction does occur, it is often the result of an improperly trained person performing the procedure - rather than a doctor of chiropractic.

If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, whether it involves chiropractic care or referral to another health care provider.

It is important for patients to understand the risks and dangers associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain – prescription and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) – as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation.

For instance, a study from the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that at least 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur among patients each year. Furthermore, according to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen. Learn more about the dangers of NSAIDS.

Selecting the right health care provider for your needs is important. The American Chiropractic Association offer tips on choosing a chiropractor. 

As with any health care provider, choose a chiropractor you are comfortable with, who addresses your health concerns, and who uses sound principles of modern health care in helping you manage your problems.

References
1. Senstad O, et al. Frequency and characteristics of side effects of spinal manipulative therapy. Spine 1997 Feb 15;435-440.
2. Haldeman S, et al. Arterial dissection following cervical manipulation: a chiropractic experience. Can Med Assoc J 2001;165(7):905-06.
3. Lanas A, et al. A nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:1685–1693.
4. Lauretti W. The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic. In Daniel Redwood, ed., Contemporary Chiropractic. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1997, p. 230-8.
5. Meeker W, Haldeman H. Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative Medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine 2002, Vol 136, No 3