ABOUT CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain
of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment
is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief
following chiropractic treatment, but some may sometimes 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.

In addition to being a safe form of treatment, spinal manipulation is incredibly effective, getting patients back on their feet faster than traditional
medical care. A March 2004 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic care is more effective than
medical care at treating chronic low-back pain in patients who have experienced symptoms for one year or less. Similarly, a study published in the
July 15, 2003, edition of the medical journal Spine found that manual manipulation provides better short-term relief of chronic spinal pain than a
variety of medications. Moreover, a 2012 study in Spine found that only 1.5 percent of workers with back injuries whose first point of treatment was
a doctor of chiropractic required surgery, compared to the 42.7 percent of workers whose first contact was a surgeon.

NECK ADJUSTMENTS

WHY CHIROPRACTIC?

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation—often called a neck adjustment—
works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of
stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, the best evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following
everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may
experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care—often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician—
but that care is not the cause of the injury. The evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck
manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.

To put this risk into perspective, if you drive more than a mile to get to your chiropractic appointment, you are at greater risk of serious injury
from a car accident than from your chiropractic visit.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for neck and back pain—such as
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)—as these options may carry risks significantly greater than those of manipulation. 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.

Furthermore, surgery for conditions for which manipulation may also be used carries risks many times greater than those of chiropractic treatment.
Even prolonged bed rest carries some risks, including muscle atrophy, cardiopulmonary deconditioning, bone mineral loss and thromoembolism.

If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of
chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider. If the issue of stroke concerns
you, do not hesitate to discuss it with your doctor of chiropractic. Depending on your clinical condition, he or she can forego manipulation, and
instead can recommend joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, soft-tissue techniques, or other therapies.