Is Chiropractic Care Safe? Debunking Myths and Examining the Evidence

If you've been considering chiropractic care but are hesitant due to safety concerns, you're not alone. You might have heard alarming stories online or from well-meaning friends or healthcare practitioners. Maybe you've wondered about that cracking sound. Or perhaps you've seen sensational headlines about "the risks".

Let's cut through the noise and look at the actual evidence. This post will address the most common safety concerns about chiropractic care with honest, evidence-based information so you can make an informed decision about your health.

The Bottom Line: What Does the Research Say?

Here's what the scientific evidence tells us: chiropractic care, when performed by a licensed professional, is considered one of the safest forms of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions. Major health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, and numerous clinical guidelines, now recommend chiropractic care as a first-line treatment for lower back pain before medication or surgery.

Studies consistently show that serious adverse events from chiropractic adjustments are extremely rare. In fact, chiropractic care has a better safety profile than many common alternatives like prescription pain medications, which carry significant risks of addiction, organ damage, and overdose, or surgery, which involves infection risks, complications, and lengthy recovery times.

But let's not gloss over the real questions you have. Let's address them head-on.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Stroke Risk

This is the concern that gets the most attention, so let's tackle it directly with honesty and evidence.

The Concern: You may have heard that neck adjustments can cause strokes, specifically a type called vertebral artery dissection. This concern is real and deserves a serious answer.

The Reality: Research shows that the risk of stroke following a chiropractic neck adjustment is extraordinarily low, estimated at somewhere between 1 in 400,000 to 1 in 5.85 million cervical adjustments. To put this in perspective, you're more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime, experience a serious adverse reaction to over-the-counter pain medication, or have complications from cervical spine surgery.

Important Context: Recent research has shown that people who are about to have a stroke often experience neck pain or headaches in the days before, which may lead them to seek care from either a chiropractor or their primary care physician. Studies have found similar associations between visiting your medical doctor for neck pain and subsequent stroke, suggesting the stroke was likely already developing rather than being caused by the treatment.

How Chiropractors Minimize Risk: Licensed chiropractors are trained to screen for stroke risk factors during your initial consultation and before every neck adjustment. We check for warning signs like severe headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, or unusual pain patterns. If we identify risk factors, we modify our treatment approach or refer you to the appropriate medical specialist. Modern chiropractic techniques include low-force options that don't involve rotation or high-velocity movements.

Your Choice: If you're concerned about neck adjustments specifically, speak up. Many chiropractors can treat your condition using alternative techniques, different adjustment styles, or focus on other areas of the spine.

Common Myths About Chiropractic Safety

Myth 1: "Chiropractors aren't real doctors"

The Truth: Chiropractors earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree after completing a rigorous doctoral program that typically requires at least seven years of higher education. The curriculum includes extensive study in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, diagnosis, radiology and X-ray interpretation, neurology, nutrition, adjusting techniques, and rehabilitation, plus nearly 1500 hours of hands-on clinical training.

Chiropractors must pass 4 national board examinations and obtain state licenses to practice. They're also required to complete continuing education throughout their careers to maintain licensure. While chiropractors don't attend medical school, they are highly trained healthcare professionals with specialized expertise in musculoskeletal health.

Myth 2: "Once you start, you have to go forever"

The Truth: This is one of the most persistent myths. While some patients choose ongoing maintenance care because they feel better with regular adjustments, there's no physical dependency created by chiropractic treatment. You're always in control of your care.

A typical treatment plan has three phases: initial intensive care to address acute symptoms, rehabilitative care to restore function and prevent recurrence, and optional maintenance or wellness care for those who choose it. You can stop at any phase based on your goals and preferences.

Myth 3: "Adjustments cause arthritis"

The Truth: This myth likely comes from the cracking sound during adjustments. That sound doesn't come from bones grinding together. It's called cavitation and results from gas bubbles releasing from the joint fluid, similar to opening a can of soda.

Research shows no evidence that chiropractic adjustments cause arthritis. In fact, proper joint movement and alignment may help prevent degeneration by ensuring even distribution of forces across joint surfaces.

Myth 4: "The cracking sound means bones are breaking"

The Truth: The popping or cracking sound during an adjustment is not bones breaking or grinding. It's the release of gas bubbles from the joint fluid in a process called cavitation. The same thing happens when you crack your knuckles, and like knuckle-cracking, it doesn't cause harm.

Importantly, an adjustment can be effective without producing this sound. The therapeutic benefit comes from restoring proper joint motion, not from the pop itself.

Myth 5: "Chiropractic adjustments can hurt you"

The Truth: Most patients describe adjustments as relieving rather than painful. You may feel pressure or stretching, and that satisfying release when the adjustment is completed. Some patients experience mild soreness afterward, similar to post-workout soreness, but this typically resolves within 24-48 hours.

Chiropractors are trained to adjust their technique based on your age, size, condition, and comfort level. If something doesn't feel right, speak up. Your chiropractor can modify the approach.

Real Risks vs. Perceived Risks

Let's be completely honest about what risks do exist, because transparency builds trust.

Actual Minor Side Effects (Common, Temporary): Some patients experience mild soreness or stiffness for 24-48 hours after adjustment, temporary fatigue as the body adjusts, or mild headache in rare cases. These effects are similar to what you might feel after starting a new exercise program and typically resolve quickly.

Rare but Possible Complications: As mentioned earlier, vertebral artery dissection is extremely rare. Rib fracture is possible in elderly patients with osteoporosis, which is why chiropractors screen for bone health. There's also a very rare possibility of nerve compression if a herniated disc worsens, though this is more likely without treatment.

Your Chiropractor's Role in Safety: Before any treatment, your chiropractor conducts a thorough health screening, asks about your medical history and current medications, performs physical examinations to assess your condition, takes or reviews diagnostic imaging when necessary, and adapts techniques based on your individual needs and risk factors.

Comparing Safety: Chiropractic vs. Alternatives

When considering whether chiropractic care is safe, it's helpful to compare it to alternative treatments for the same conditions.

Chiropractic vs. Pain Medications: NSAIDs like ibuprofen cause an estimated 16,500 deaths and 100,000 hospitalizations annually in the U.S. from gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiovascular problems. Opioids carry risks of addiction, overdose, and numerous serious side effects. Chiropractic care has no risk of addiction and no systemic side effects.

Chiropractic vs. Surgery: Spine surgery carries risks, including infection, blood clots, nerve damage, and failed back surgery syndrome. Recovery time is typically months, and outcomes are not always successful. Chiropractic offers a conservative, non-invasive approach with minimal recovery time.

Chiropractic vs. Doing Nothing: Leaving musculoskeletal problems untreated can lead to chronic pain, decreased mobility and quality of life, compensation patterns that create new problems, and reliance on pain management rather than treatment.

Who Shouldn't Get Chiropractic Adjustments?

Chiropractic care is safe for most people, but certain conditions require modified treatment or medical referral. You should inform your chiropractor if you have severe osteoporosis, certain types of spinal cancer, active infections in the spine, unstable fractures, severe arterial disease, or blood-clotting disorders or use of blood thinners.

This doesn't necessarily mean you can't receive any chiropractic care. It means your chiropractor will use modified, gentler techniques or focus treatment on safe areas, or refer you to appropriate medical specialists when needed.

Special Populations: Is Chiropractic Safe for Everyone?

Pregnant Women: Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not only safe but often beneficial. Chiropractors use specialized tables and techniques designed for pregnant patients. Many women find relief from pregnancy-related back pain, sciatica, and pelvic discomfort through chiropractic care.

Children and Infants: Pediatric chiropractic uses extremely gentle techniques appropriate for a child's developing body. The amount of pressure used on an infant is no more than you'd use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Research supports the safety of pediatric chiropractic when performed by trained professionals.

Elderly Patients: Age alone doesn't exclude you from chiropractic care. However, chiropractors modify techniques for older patients, using gentler, low-force approaches. Many seniors find chiropractic care helps them maintain mobility and independence.

Athletes: Many professional sports teams employ chiropractors because the care is safe and helps optimize performance while reducing injury risk. The rigorous demands on an athlete's body make them ideal candidates for chiropractic care.

Red Flags: When to Be Cautious

While most chiropractors provide safe, effective care, here are warning signs that should make you think twice about a practitioner:

They claim to cure diseases that are outside the scope of chiropractic, promise guaranteed results, pressure you into long-term prepaid plans, discourage you from seeing medical doctors or refuse to coordinate care, don't perform proper examinations or take health history, don't screen for contraindications before treatment, ignore your concerns or discomfort during treatment, or don't adjust their approach based on your response to care.

A good chiropractor will be honest about what chiropractic can and cannot treat, work collaboratively with other healthcare providers, respect your concerns and preferences, modify treatment based on your response, and prioritize your safety above all else.

Making Chiropractic Care Even Safer

Here's how you can maximize the safety of your chiropractic care:

Before Your First Visit: Be completely honest about your medical history, list all medications and supplements you take, mention any concerning symptoms like dizziness or severe headaches, share previous injuries or surgeries, and disclose any bone health concerns.

During Your Appointments: Communicate openly if something doesn't feel right, ask questions if you don't understand something, tell your chiropractor if you're nervous or uncomfortable, and report any new or worsening symptoms immediately.

Between Visits: Follow your chiropractor's aftercare instructions, report any unusual symptoms or reactions, keep scheduled follow-up appointments, and maintain communication with all your healthcare providers.

The Research Continues

Chiropractic care is one of the most-studied complementary healthcare approaches. Ongoing research continues to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness. Major health organizations worldwide now include chiropractic in their treatment guidelines for spine-related conditions.

The evidence base continues to grow, and chiropractic education and standards evolve in response to current research and best practices.

Our Commitment to Your Safety

At Nord Ro, your safety is our highest priority. We're committed to evidence-based care that follows current clinical guidelines and best practices, thorough screening before every treatment, clear communication about your care and any potential risks, modified techniques for special populations and specific conditions, ongoing assessment of your response to treatment, and coordination with other healthcare providers when appropriate.

We believe in informed consent and trauma-informed care. You'll always know what we're doing and why, and you'll always have the right to ask questions or decline any treatment at any time. This is your healthcare.

Serving Chicago's diverse communities from our Lakeview location, Nord Ro Clinic provides evidence-based, safe chiropractic care to patients throughout the North Side, including Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Roscoe Village, Uptown, and Rogers Park. Our convenient Lincoln Avenue location and trauma-informed approach make quality, safe chiropractic care accessible to all.

Questions to Ask Your Chiropractor

Don't hesitate to ask these important safety questions:

What is your education and licensing? How many patients with my condition have you treated? What techniques do you use, and are there alternatives? What are the risks specific to my situation? How will you monitor my progress? When would you refer me to another healthcare provider? What should I do if I experience side effects?

Any reputable chiropractor will welcome these questions and answer them thoroughly.

The Real Risk? Not Seeking Care

While it's smart to evaluate safety concerns, here's something to consider: for many people, the real risk isn't from chiropractic care but from leaving musculoskeletal problems untreated.

Chronic pain affects your quality of life, mental health, sleep, relationships, and work performance. Untreated conditions can worsen over time, requiring more invasive interventions later. Relying solely on pain medication masks symptoms without addressing root causes.

Ready to Experience Safe, Effective Chiropractic Care?

Now that you have the facts about chiropractic safety, you can make an informed decision about your health. If you're dealing with back pain, neck pain, headaches, or other musculoskeletal issues, chiropractic care offers a safe, effective, evidence-based solution.

Schedule your consultation today:

• Call or text us at 773-886-0960

• Book online at www.nordro.clinic

• Visit us at 2908 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

During your first visit, we'll conduct a comprehensive evaluation, discuss any safety concerns specific to your situation, and create a personalized treatment plan designed for your needs. You'll never be pressured into treatment, and we'll answer every question you have.

Don't let myths and misconceptions keep you from getting the care you need. Let's work together toward your health goals with safe, effective, patient-centered chiropractic care.

Dr. Sebastian Bergeron at Nord Ro is committed to providing evidence-based chiropractic care with the highest safety standards. Proudly serving Chicago, we combine clinical expertise with genuine concern for each patient's well-being. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your first appointment.

📚 MAJOR RESEARCH CITATIONS:

- Cassidy et al. (2008): "Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: Results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study" - Spine Journal

- Gouveia et al. (2009): "An assessment of the implications of the spinal manipulative therapy, stroke, and cerebrovascular accident association" - Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

- Whedon et al. (2015): "Risk of traumatic injury associated with chiropractic spinal manipulation in Medicare Part B beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years" - Spine

- Qaseem et al. (2017): "Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians" - Annals of Internal Medicine