The Safety of Chiropractic Treatment
Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, as with any treatment, there are some risks that accompany chiropractic adjustments. Some may experience temporary soreness, stiffness or slight swelling following an adjustment. Some patients may also experience temporary dizziness, local numbness, or radiating pain. However, adverse effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.
Dr. Dunderdale will perform the appropriate investigations to determine if you are a good candidate for therapy in terms of patient safety and likelihood of success. As well, you will be provided the best treatment according to your individual condition.
If you are not a good candidate for chiropractic care, you will be referred to the appropriate health care provider.
Neck Adjustments: The Most Recent Research
(adapted from the CCA website)
As with most other adjustments, neck adjustment works to improve joint mobility in the cervical spine, thereby restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm. Patients typically notice a reduction of pain, soreness, stiffness and improved mobility.
Neck adjustment, particularly of the top two vertebrae of the spine, has on rare occasions been associated with stroke and stroke-like symptoms. This risk is considerably lower than those serious adverse events associated with many common health treatments such as long-term use of non-prescription pain relievers or birth control pills. While estimates vary, a range of one to two events per million neck adjustments is the ratio generally accepted by the research community.
A Canadian study, published in 2001 in the medical journal Stroke
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, concluded that stroke associated with neck adjustment is so rare that it is difficult to calculate an accurate risk ratio.
The study was conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the authors have stated: "The evidence to date indicates that the risk associated with chiropractic manipulation of the neck is both small and inaccurately estimated. The estimated level of risk is smaller than that associated with many commonly used diagnostic tests or prescription drugs."
The most recent research into the association between neck adjustment and stroke is biomechanical studies to assess what strain, if any, neck adjustment may place on the vertebral arteries. The preliminary findings of this ongoing work indicate that neck adjustment is done well within the normal range of motion and that neck adjustment is "very unlikely to mechanically disrupt the VA [vertebral artery]."
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There are many risk factors for stroke including blood clotting problems, hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, birth control pills, heart problems and trauma such as blows to the head from car accidents, sports injuries or falls. Some strokes happen spontaneously with no obvious cause during activities of daily living such as backing up a car. A patient’s health history and activities have to be examined very carefully in order to determine the most probable cause of a stroke.
Informed
consent
Prior to starting treatment, all health professionals are required in law to obtain informed consent to treatment from their patients. Health care consumers must receive adequate and accurate information to assist them in evaluating their health care choices, and in balancing the relative risks of treatment options with the benefits. The chiropractic profession takes this responsibility seriously and has been a leader in obtaining informed consent.
References
Phone: (613)-829-4445
Fax: (613)-829-4446
e-mail: nepeanchiropractic@bellnet.ca
