The Comparative Safety of Chiropractic Neck Adjustments

Chiropractic Neck Adjustments are Safe, and Effective

Neck pain is a common reason people visit a chiropractor. As many as 12% of people in the US receive chiropractic care in any given year, and a majority of these are treated with chiropractic manipulation, i.e. adjustments. Chiropractic neck adjustments are safe, effective and appropriate treatment for patients with the most common forms of neck pain. But, a considerable amount of controversy persists regarding the safety of chiropractic neck adjustments.

Comparative Safety of Neck Pain Treatments

NSAID/Aspirin Risks

The death rate attributed to NSAID/aspirin use is between 21.0 and 24.8 cases/million people, respectively, or 15.3 deaths/100,000 NSAID/aspirin users. This is according to a nationwide study of mortality associated with hospital admission due to severe gastrointestinal events and those associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use.

Neck Surgery Risks

Sentinel events from neck surgery (including esophageal perforation, vascular injury, nerve injury, retention of foreign objects, wrong-site surgery, and death) have been identified in 123 patients out of a total of 251,318  (19 cases/million).

Chiropractic Neck Adjustment Risk

While there is no robust data concerning the incidence or prevalence of adverse reactions after chiropractic adjustments, responsible estimates of the risk rate of stroke vary between 1 in 400,000 and 1 in 5.85 million treatments. The figure most frequently given by experts is 1 death in every 1 to 2 million treatments. In fact, the most recent systematic review published in 2016 states that, “There is no convincing evidence to support a causal link between chiropractic manipulation and [stroke].”

The Bottom Line on Safety of Chiropractic Neck Adjustments

Chiropractic neck adjustments are safe, effective, and appropriate treatment for patients with the most common forms of neck pain. And, Activator instrument-assisted chiropractic neck adjustments are even safer.  There have been no adverse events or deaths ever reported following Activator-assisted chiropractic neck adjustments. Dr. Weisel uses the Activator instrument to preform chiropractic neck adjustments. 

If Activator-assisted chiropractic care sounds like something you would like to try, call or contact our office today.