If you’ve experienced a neck or back injury or are simply looking into chiropractic care, you may be wondering if chiropractic adjustments are safe. We’re here to inform you on the benefits of chiropractic adjustments and reassure you that adjustments are a gentle (and effective!) form of spinal manipulation. You have nothing to be afraid of! Read on to find out more about how chiropractic adjustments can help you feel your best.
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Plenty of videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube attract views (and sometimes advertising money) through portraying chiropractic adjustments as dangerous or scary. This is an effective marketing strategy to get views… but this is really not the reality of chiropractic adjustments!
For starters, one million chiropractic adjustments are performed every single day here in the United States- so one million people understand how safe adjustments can be! Secondly, chiropractic adjustments are actually much less risky than using drugs or surgery to treat the issue of chronic pain. Thirdly- to be board certified, chiropractors in New York State have to receive approximately 4,620 educational hours to receive their degree, which is only 200 hours less than a medical doctor. You’re in good hands!
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
It’s helpful to understand what an adjustment even is. By definition, a chiropractic adjustment is a method that a chiropractor uses to physically adjust the vertebrae of your spine, reducing subluxation and usually providing relief. (Subluxation occurs when a spinal vertebra is out of position in comparison to the other vertebrae- in English, it’s when your spine is misaligned!)
Before your first adjustment even begins, your chiropractor reviews your medical history and symptoms associated with your condition, and may ask a variety of questions about the existing pain and causes to inform treatment.
The next step is to undergo a chiropractic exam, in which your doctor performs general tests, like blood pressure or reflexes, and a physical assessment to examine a patient’s range of motion, muscle tone, muscle strength, and potential neurological condition.
From there, treatment may consist of adjustments, which are a gentle manipulation of the spine used to alleviate neck and back pain and address a variety of musculoskeletal issues. Adjustments may be performed manually or with the help of specific tools and instruments. After a chiropractic adjustment, patients may experience increased range of motion, reduced nerve irritability, less pain or improved overall bodily function.
Why would I get an adjustment?
Most people commonly associate chiropractic care with back pain and know to call their chiropractor when they slip and fall on ice or get a stiff back. But did you know that chiropractic care can also be very helpful for car accidents and workplace injuries? Our practice has a lot of experience with workers’ comp and no fault injuries in NYS!
Chiropractic care can also treat a variety of conditions, including:
Chronic pain
Migraine headaches
Sciatica
Back pain
Herniated disc
Neck pain
Sports injuries
And more!