If you've ever considered chiropractic treatment in Riverdale but decided against it, it's likely because you're concerned about your safety.
You've probably asked around to see if anybody you know has been adjusted by a chiropractor, or you've done some research online and discovered mixed results. Chiropractic care is acknowledged as a safe and effective form of treatment by the American Medical Association, the Mayo Clinic, and other established medical institutions. For those with back pain, neck discomfort, joint pain, and a variety of other medical disorders, chiropractic care is an excellent alternative to narcotics and invasive therapies like surgery.
Chiropractic manipulation is safe for pain relief and has very few negative side effects when administered by a licensed and experienced practitioner. However, keep in mind that no single treatment is ideal for everyone.
The article below will look into the risks and benefits of chiropractic care in Riverdale, GA.
Table Of Contents:
- How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?
- Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments
- What Are the Risks of Chiropractic Care in Riverdale, GA?
- Science Supporting Chiropractic Care
- Contact Arrowhead Clinic in Riverdale, GA
How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?
There is a one in a million chance that a patient will have a major adverse reaction during spinal manipulation. Patients are considerably more at risk when they see a healthcare professional for back pain and are prescribed pain killers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and prescription medicines have more severe adverse effects.
Some individuals may experience muscle discomfort and stiffness shortly after receiving chiropractic treatment. Soreness is common and similar to the pain you can feel after a good workout. In most cases, the discomfort will go away in 24 to 48 hours.
Chiropractors will review your medical history as well as any pre-existing ailments. Depending on your medical background, it may be in your best interest to alter your treatment plan.
Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments
Many people visit a chiropractor to alleviate their neck, back, knee, and shoulder pain. While cervical spine manipulation and other adjustment methods are excellent for pain reduction, they aren't the sole advantage of going to a chiropractor.
Here are just a few of the benefits you stand to gain when you use manipulative therapy:
- Pain Relief
- Improved Blood Circulation
- Increased Joint Mobility and Less Joint Pain
- Less Stress
- Better Sleep
- Improved Mood
- Improved Flexibility and Range of Motion
- Improved Athletic Performance
- Better Digestion
- A Boosted Immune System
- Less Nasal Congestion
People generally seek out chiropractic medical treatment after:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Sports Injuries
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Chronic Low-Back Pain
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Numbness or Tingling in the Hands and Feet
- Sciatica
- Workplace Injuries
Some patients receive chiropractic procedures as an ongoing treatment as preventative healthcare even when they aren't experiencing symptoms.
What Are the Risks of Chiropractic Care in Riverdale, GA?
Chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective alternative to medication and surgery. Chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments, which are physical manipulations of the spine, to treat pain and injuries for patients in a safer, less hazardous way.
Chiropractors adjust the spine with their hands and activator tools. The goal of spinal adjustments is to improve the alignment and range of motion of the spine while also assisting the body to perform at its best.
When performing spinal manipulation, chiropractors will occasionally apply additional force. It depends on the severity of your injuries and your current condition.
Doctors of Chiropractic undergo years of schooling and are required to be licensed before they can work with chiropractic patients. They must complete 4,620 total educational hours to get their degrees. That's almost 1,000 hours more than a Doctor of Physical Therapy and only 200 hours less than a Medical Doctor.
There are many precautions and safety measures in place to eliminate any adverse effects. The adverse effects associated with chiropractic care are rare when performed by a licensed and trained chiropractic expert. Overall, chiropractic adjustments are safe for treating back pain, neck pain, and headaches through spinal manipulation.
If complications do occur, they may include the worsening of a slipped or herniated disc, compression of spinal nerves, and, in rare cases, stroke. This type of stroke is caused by an arterial injury or vertebral artery dissection (artery tear) that can occur after manipulation of the neck.
Stroke is a very rare occurrence. Patients with pre-existing illnesses such as severe osteoporosis, spine cancer, and bone structure abnormalities are more prone to sustain these injuries, which are all risk factors for stroke. If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your chiropractor before beginning spinal manipulation.
By discussing your concerns with your chiropractor, they will be able to adapt their treatment strategy and ensure they identify potential hazards and the possibility of your condition worsening as a result of chiropractic manipulation. When you go to a chiropractor for therapy, be honest about your present and previous medical history.
Science Supporting Chiropractic Care
For those who need scientific evidence, several clinical trials have helped prove the effectiveness of chiropractic care.
The National Library of Medicine has published many great studies supporting chiropractic care. In 2018, a review included 17 years of studies involving spinal manipulation and mobilization. The studies investigated the effects of chiropractic treatments on chronic lower back pain. The authors concluded that the chiropractic methods were "viable" choices for pain management.
Another study took place from January 2014 to December 2020 in Ontario, Canada, where doctors integrated chiropractic services into chronic pain management. The chiropractic treatments were associated with enhanced clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction and reduced physician visits, use of advanced imaging, specialist referrals, and opioid prescribing.
These findings are encouraging, but researchers agree that further study is required to discover the optimal time and frequency of spinal manipulation and identify which injuries may benefit from certain therapies.
Contact Arrowhead Clinic in Riverdale, GA
For more than 40 years, Arrowhead Clinic has given safe and effective chiropractic services to their Georgia communities.
Dr. Adcock at our Riverdale Clinic began her Undergraduate studies in Biology at The College of Charleston and later transferred to Life University in Marietta, GA.
She finished her Bachelor's Degree concurrently while acquiring her Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree in 2018.
Life University is widely recognized throughout the world as a top chiropractic institution and regularly has the highest National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam scores in the nation.
Schedule your Free Consultation if you're ready to receive safe chiropractic treatments from Dr. Adcock at our Riverdale office today.
