
Spinal manipulation has been proven to be safe and effective with minimal risks.
Chiropractic techniques may appear to be dangerous or intimidating, but the truth is far from that. Spinal manipulation for low back pain has been shown to be both safe and effective, especially when performed by a properly trained practitioner such as Innovative Chiropractic.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
During lumbar spine manipulation, there are less than one in a million patient visits that results in a major adverse event (AE). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are a frequent treatment for low back pain, tend to put patients at far higher risk.
Some people do experience minor adverse reactions, such as muscular soreness and stiffness, shortly after receiving treatment. But this is common, and it usually goes away in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Chiropractic professionals pay special attention to a patient’s medical background and co-existing conditions since there are instances when it would be beneficial to modify the treatment plan.
Chiropractic Care “Red Flags”
A patient’s medical condition may occasionally make high-velocity manipulation of the lumbar spine unsuitable. These conditions are referred to by chiropractors as “red flags.” The following are a few examples:
- Severe osteoporosis
- Osteomyelitis
- Multiple myeloma
- Bone tumors
- Paget’s disease
- Progressive or sudden neurologic
Generally, any number of inflammatory conditions, including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Reactive arthritis
Bleeding disorders and issues with structural stability can also be red flags.
Chiropractic Treatment: Formulating the Best Strategy
“Red Flags” do not necessarily indicate that chiropractic care is too risky. The phrase simply means that the course of therapy must be changed significantly in order to safeguard the patient and best meet his or her needs.
For instance, localized primary bone cancers are regarded as a warning sign since they may weaken the affected bone. However, a chiropractor may still decide that a course of treatment involving other methods may help the patient’s condition without endangering him or her.
Some chiropractic procedures are contraindicated for certain procedures. High-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation is not advised at the joint level in cases of spinal fusion (such as spine surgery involving fusion and/or instrumentation and fusion). This also applies to people who have implants like artificial disc replacements or other devices (e.g., interbody device). However, in some individuals who have previously had spine surgery, soft tissue manipulation and other manual procedures might be considered.
A Choice of Many Effective Options
Chiropractic care frequently takes a multimodal approach to patient care. A chiropractor may use massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, Tai Chi, supervised rehabilitation activities, and other therapies in a comprehensive, individualized plan of care.
A patient’s physical functionality as well as symptom improvement and pain relief are Innovative Chiropractic’s primary goal of care. Living with low back pain need not be a burden borne alone. Generally speaking, chiropractic care is safe, effective, and may significantly enhance a patient’s quality of life. Contact your Mill Creek chiropractor, Innovative Chiropractic, to find out more.