Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

The short answer is yes. Chiropractic care, when performed by a licensed chiropractor, is one of the safest forms of hands-on healthcare available. Serious complications are rare.

The risk of serious adverse events from spinal manipulation is extremely low. Studies consistently put the rate of serious complications, things like vertebral artery injury, at somewhere between one in a million and one in several million manipulations. For context, common over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and naproxen carry higher risks of serious side effects when taken long-term. Chiropractic is safer than the drugs people casually take to manage the same pain.

The most common side effect is temporary soreness in the treated area, similar to what you feel after a workout. This typically resolves within 24 hours. Some patients feel mild fatigue or a slight headache after their first adjustment, both of which pass quickly.

Dr. Muren is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic in the state of Florida. He completed his training at Palmer College of Chiropractic, the oldest chiropractic college in the world. Before any adjustment, he conducts a thorough examination to rule out contraindications. If something in your health history makes a high-velocity adjustment inadvisable, he has other techniques available, including acupuncture and instrument-assisted soft tissue methods that are gentler but still effective.