There are a few concerns that some people have about seeing a chiropractor. These tend to be
passed around as rumors...like, from a person that had an uncle that once knew someone who...
Some concerns are raised by other doctors.
Either way, you deserve to have your questions answered.
Here are some we have heard:
1) Will the adjustment make my joints too loose?
- Not when delivered correctly by a trained doctor of chiropractic. Only the joints that need to
be adjusted are adjusted. There are two situations where a joint needs to be adjusted:
- First, when a joint is not moving correctly.
- Second, when rapid stretching of the surrounding muscles and joint capsule will cause nerve
activation that will stimulate areas of the brain stem, cerebellum, and/or cerebral cortex. (See
the Neurology page for more information.)
2) Will the adjustment brake my bones?
- Not when delivered correctly by a trained doctor of chiropractic. Your chiropractic doctor
chooses the best adjusting approach based on your age, size and other factors. This is why is best
done by a trained chiropractor.
- No one should adjust themselves, because untrained manipulation can cause damage to
muscle or joints or generate improper nerve stimulation. But even manipulations not given by
a doctor are highly unlikely to cause damage beyond that.
- Severe osteoporosis (loss of bone minerals) or cancer of the spine can predispose someone to
spinal fractures.
- Your chiropractor must be aware of the uncommon severe osteoporosis and use the
appropriate force. Patients with severe osteoporosis are often the ones that have
spontaneous spine fractures(like when they step off a curb) that end up making them walked
hunched over in their upper back or the ones that fracture their pelvis from just falling over.
The Activator instrument may be appropriate in their case, or perhaps no adjustments at all.
- Cancer in the spine is rare and is usually found with appropriate health screening (most
importantly, your previously having been diagnosed cancer of the prostate, lung or breast).
3) Can neck adjustment cause a stroke or paralyze me?
- No. I am sure that would be a scary thought. That idea comes from too many ninja movies and
some bad research. There has never been a proven instance of chiropractic adjustment causing a
stroke or making someone paralyzed.
- For those who want the fancy terminology, the latest research indicates that cerebrovascular
accidents occur no more frequently after chiropractic adjustments than they do in any other
situation.(2)
(1) New Zealand Report, Report of the Commission of Inquiry. Government Printer, Wellinngton, New Zealand, 1979.
(2) Current Concepts: Spinal Manipulation and Cervical Arterial Incidents 2005. The full monograph was co-edited by John J.
Triano, D.C., Ph.D., and Greg Kawchuk, BSc, D.C., MSc, Ph.D., with contributors including: M. Ram Gudavalli, PhD, Michael T.
Haneline, D.C., M.P.H., Michael D. Hill, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, and Shari Wynd, BSc, BASc, MASc, D.C.
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