What to Expect

What to Expect

Individual experience varies from person to person, but most people can expect some benefits soon after beginning care and for these to consolidate further as treatment continues.

Statistically too, research shows that Chiropractic care is more effective and economical and also gives longer lasting results for disorders of the spine than other forms of health care.

Are there any risks?

Yes, as with any form of health care, there are some risks.

Some people may feel slight soreness following their first few adjustments as the body begins to re-align. This is usually very mild and only lasts for a short time.

Then there are the very rare risks of infrequent strain/injury to a ligament or disc in the neck (less than 1 in 139,000) or the low back (1 in 62,000).

There is also an extremely rare risk of stroke associated with adjustments of the neck which all published studies agree is extremely low. The most recent research published in 2001 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal put such an event at one in 5.85 million adjustments.

To put things into perspective, if you drive your car to see your Chiropractor then you have a greater chance of being injured in a car accident than from your Chiropractic care.

Do adjustments hurt?

In most cases, not at all. In fact, most people find having an adjustment very relaxing.

With some adjustments you may sometimes feel or hear a popping sound from the spinal joints. This is simply caused by a gas release from the joint as spinal movement is restored, such as when a wet glass is removed from a table.

Some Chiropractors use a hand held instrument to adjust the spine. Others use pelvic blocks to re-align the body. Special techniques are used for adjusting infants and children.

Whatever the technique, Chiropractors use skill, not force or strength, to conduct a safe, effective adjustment.