Evaluating the Safety of Chiropractic Care

The best Denver chiropractors offer treatment for the neck and back, focusing on adjustments involving muscles, joints, ligaments, tissues, and similar musculoskeletal parts that can be a source of pain.

Their approach is a holistic one, as they only work with their hands to reduce and resolve pain. This belief is founded on the idea that if the body is aligned properly, the results can positively impact the entire body. As a result of this treatment style, they do not perform surgery or provide medication.

Most often they deal with injuries such as damaged spinal nerves, eroded vertebrae, or disc and joint damage that result in discomfort or different levels of pain. They can sometimes use heat or cold to help target specific ailments, such as muscle knots, or just to encourage an atmosphere of relaxation.

Indeed, their fingers can work miracles to reduce stress and provide an enjoyable experience using massage therapy, even if there is no specific inherent pain and the purpose is just to help the patient distress.

Believe it or not, these treatments have also proven effective against headaches. Research also shows that they can work wonders on the human body, encouraging significant improvement in back and neck ailments.

However, many people are afraid to make use of a chiropractor’s services because they are afraid that it can cause additional damage or may not be safe.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

The major determining factor in whether chiropractic care is safe or not has to do with who is administering the care.

Chiropractors’ methods are widely considered safe procedures, especially since they are using only their hands to make minor adjustments to their specialty areas.

Even procedures such as spinal decompression, which is used to “stretch” the spine to alleviate pressure on herniated or bulging discs using a specialized work table designed for that purpose are deemed low-risk and safe, generally resulting in positive results.

However, if the individual performing the treatment is not a licensed professional, they may lack proper training and could potentially place you at greater risk during treatment.

Just like you would not let an unqualified surgeon operate on you, you shouldn’t let anyone without extensive training and experience as a chiropractor work on your body.

How Do I Know if a Chiropractor is a Professional?

Many people do not think of a chiropractor as a doctor and do not understand exactly how much schooling is required for them to become a professional in the field of chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractors must earn a four-year degree, generally engaging in extensive studies including Biology, Anatomy, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Clinical Orthopedics, Chiropractor Methodology, and other related fields.

However, even that is not sufficient to become a chiropractor.

They are also required to earn a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree, which means about four more years of studies, bringing the total to 8 years. That is a substantial amount of coursework and means that they are, in fact, doctors, just not in the medical field.

Even with this education complete, the journey isn’t over. Like their medical doctor counterparts, they have to successfully complete board examinations. When they do so, they receive their license and become a D.C. - Doctor of Chiropractic.

At this point, it should be clear that these professionals are experts in their field and have spent a considerable amount of time perfecting their art. They know their target areas inside and out (literally) and know exactly what to do to make safe adjustments.

Therefore, make sure that the person you choose for this type of care is an officially licensed D.C. This is the best way to ensure that you are in good hands (again, literally).

Are There Any Risks during Chiropractic Care?

Everything in life poses risks of one sort or another, and chiropractic treatment is no exception. While these risks are minimum, they do happen from time to time and can be exacerbated by certain circumstances.

For instance, if you have a history of certain maladies such as multiple myeloma, osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, bone tumors, and severe forms of arthritis, treatment can actually have an adverse effect.

This is why it is important to disclose any medical issues to the chiropractor in advance to prevent this from happening. They know what ailments can cause problems and will not perform treatments that will make the problem worse; their job is to alleviate pain.

From time to time during or after treatment, you may experience soreness, especially in areas where mobility is limited or a muscle is tight. This is normal and should be easily recognizable as positive pain, the type that you know means the issue is getting better.

If you feel a more insistent pain that is worrisome, tell your chiropractor immediately so he can determine whether there is a problem or if the pain is a normal expectation for that particular treatment.

In rare circumstances, there can be adverse effects resulting from lumbar manipulation techniques, but this can be as unusual as a single patient out of a million that suffer from this unusual incident.

Keep in mind that a chiropractor does not prescribe medicine or perform surgery, but in some cases, may refer you to a doctor or specialist who can if it seems necessary.

Both medicine and operations come with their own risks, so keep that in mind if this is an avenue you choose to pursue.

The Bottom Line

Whether you simply want a relaxing and soothing experience or are seeking relief from neck or back pain, rest assured that a chiropractor is a well-trained professional with extensive knowledge of how to perform the treatment to maximum effectiveness.

These procedures are considered safe, posing little to no threat, unless you suffer from specific ailments which can cause unexpected reactions during body adjustment procedures.

Make sure that the chiropractor knows about any issues which could potentially cause a problem and feel free to ask about any risks involved with specific adjustments to set your mind at ease and help you make an informed decision about treatment services.