No matter what the cause of the accident, dealing with moderate or serious injuries can be a huge challenge. People are often dealing with thing like chronic pain, limited range of motion, stiffness, balance issues, and overall health concerns as a result of the injury. Obviously, they want to know what their treatment options are—but they also don’t want to overstep their bounds and do something that might actually prolong or worsen their condition, rather than improving it.
People often learn about chiropractic treatment as a viable option for making a faster and fuller recovery from certain types of injury—especially those related to the back and neck. But is it safe?
This is a fair question to ask. If you’re experiencing severe back or neck pain as a result of whiplash, for example, the idea of chiropractic adjustments to help the healing process can seem downright scary. Plus, you might have heard stories from people who are skeptical of chiropractics.
In finding honest answers, it’s important to look at the evidence—and to pay attention to what major medical establishments are saying about chiropractics. The Mayo Clinic is just one of many institutions of high repute which openly states that chiropractic care has been known to be highly effective for certain medical conditions, including the after effects of certain injuries. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) have been through long years of training and internships (it takes approximately the same amount of time to become a DC as it does to become an MD, in most cases), and have demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of the human body.
So how does chiropractics treat injuries, and is it really safe?
It’s worth noting that chiropractic care is not considered a primary means of medical treatment, and no reputable chiropractor will tell you to stop visiting your physician or your primary medical care team. What chiropractics can do is offer is a non-invasive, non-surgical, drug-free way to correct spinal imbalances that lead to many other symptoms and disorders. When joints are out of alignment (particularly the vertebrae), the nervous system as a whole is affected. The manipulations and adjustments made by qualified chiropractors are totally safe, provided your chiropractor has a good working knowledge of your injury and medical history. It’s also a good idea to keep your primary physician informed about your intentions to seek chiropractor care.
The bottom line is that chiropractics are safe, but like any form of medical treatment, there are situations in which certain adjustments or treatments should not be administered. When in doubt, talk to your physician and your chiropractor to clear up any lingering safety concerns, and put yourself safely on the road to recovery.