“Can a chiropractor damage your spine?”
I will have a chiropractic spine adjustment. I am afraid. Can a chiropractor damage your spine?
5 Answers
An adjustment if performed properly to an area that has been deemed safe for an adjustment should never do harm. Dr. Eric Miller -Orland Park, IL
You are much more likely to have your spine damaged by a well meaning friend, or yourself, for that matter, than to suffer damage from the subtle, well trained hands of a licensed chiropractor. Rotation of the neck, especially in extension, is frequently invoked in stroke claims. For at least 30 years there have been techniques taught which permit adjustment in neutral. I have come to prefer Activator for delivering the force, but regardless of that, what you are paying for is the expertise involved.
Chiropractic adjustments are exceedingly safe. In my 30 years of busy practice giving hundreds of thousands of Chiropractic adjustments, I have never injured a patient. A key factor for this safety record is my Clinic also does a comprehensive Health history of our patients. Therefore, we “weed out” those patients that Chiropractic adjustments would be contradicted to do on them. People with certain collagen diseases like Ehler Danlos syndrome, or Spinal Fusion surgery; are examples of patients that Adjustments are contraindicated for. Also, there are extremely gentle adjustments that Chiropractors do using adjusting instruments on patients with a lot of arthritis or osteoporosis that are safe and effective.
In a large majority of cases the spinal adjustment is not painful and there is no damage to the spine. The practice and training of Chiropractors is meant to deliver an adjustment that will address the misalignment and reset the joint . The by product of the the adjustment is releasing CO2 gas, much like cracking a knuckle
Thank you for your question. It is common to be nervous with your first adjustment. If the chiropractic did a proper exam and x-rays (if necessary), then the doctor will not damage your spine with an adjustment. Chiropractic is safe and effective when applied properly. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you.
