A comprehensive analysis concludes that the possible adverse effects of chiropractic care are typically very mild, and that serious adverse events are extremely rare.

The researchers write: “This synopsis provides an overview of the benign and serious risks associated with chiropractic care for subjects with neck or low-back pain. Most adverse events associated with spinal manipulation are benign and self-limiting. The incidence of severe complications following chiropractic care and manipulation is extremely low. The best evidence suggests that chiropractic care is a useful therapy for subjects with neck or low-back pain for which the risks of serious adverse events should be considered negligible.” 

JMPT – August, 2008;31:461-4.

www.mosby.com/jmpt 

A new analysis confirms that chiropractic care is safe and effective for infants and toddlers.

Investigators poured over the records of 781 patients younger than three years of age cared for at a teaching clinic practice in Bournemouth , England during a 3-year period.

Most (73.5%) of the patients were 12 weeks of age or younger when they began care.

A total of 697 children “received a total of 5,242 chiropractic treatments, with 85% of parents reporting an improvement. Seven parents reported an adverse effect. There was a reaction rate of approximately 1 child in 100, or one reaction reported for every 749 treatments. There were no serious complications resulting from chiropractic treatment (reactions lasting >24 hours or severe enough to require hospital care).”

“This study shows that for the population studied, chiropractic manipulation produced very few adverse effects and was a safe form of therapy in the treatment of patients in this age group,” conclude the study’s authors.

JMPT – August, 2008;31:419-23.

www.mosby.com/jmpt