How Safe is Chiropractic Care?

Asking if a new form of treatment is safe or right for you is completely normal - in fact, you should be doing your due diligence with every new medical treatment or therapy you try throughout your life. In our case, the question, "Are chiropractors safe?" is one we've heard often. Unfortunately, there are many rumours around about the benefits of chiropractic care, but we're here to give you the rundown on its safety and effectiveness, as well as providing youn with insights on when to visit a chiropractor and when to discontinue treatment.

When Should You See a Chiropractor?

Chiropractors are experts in the musculoskeletal system, and specifically look after issues of the spine, muscles, and nervous system. They are trained to diagnose the cause and recommend treatment plans for pain management and mobility issues, aiming to prevent further symptoms through the use of manual treatments (otherwise known as chiropractic adjustments). This provides patients with an alternative to more extreme methods such as surgeries and/or pharmaceuticals.

A few top reasons to consider seeing a chiropractor include:

• Having recently been in an accident (such as a motor vehicle accident)
• Experiencing sudden or chronic headaches
• Having been diagnosed with or suspecting you may have fibromyalgia or sciatica
• Working at a sedentary job and experiencing pain
• Regularly participating in physically strenuous activities or sports
   

Is Chiropractic Care a Safe and Effective Treatment Option?

The simple answer is yes - chiropractic care has been around for hundreds of years and has been proven to be both a safe and effective treatment option for a variety of ailments and a wide range of individuals. That being said, as with any therapeutic treatment, there are potential risks and side effects of chiropractic care. Adverse reactions can sometimes include stiffness, headaches, fatigue, and local pain; the benefits of chiropractic care, however, far outweigh the potential risks involved.

The best chiropractic treatment requires a team that cares first and foremost about every patient's wellbeing, and takes a holistic approach. Each patient's needs have to be individually assessed in order to uncover a plan of action which is tailor-made, as everybody is unique in some way. Your treatment plan will depend on a variety of factors including your medical history, physical health, lifestyle, and more, and will continue to be closely monitored throughout.

When to Discontinue Chiropractic Care

A great chiropractic team will always be reevaluating your personalized treatment plan. If a patient is not experiencing any pain relief, increase in mobility, or decrease in other symptoms, a chiropractor will adjust the treatment plan accordingly. By reevaluating how a patient's symptoms are improving or progressing, they can make decisions about whether to continue, discontinue or change chiropractic treatments. In some cases a chiropractor may even refer the patient to a different specialized doctor.

A few reasons to discontinue chiropractic care include:

• Experiencing increased pain or progressing symptoms
• A lack of improvement within a few weeks of the treatment plan
• Symptoms completely going away (which is the most ideal outcome, of course)
   

Overall, there is a lot of trust involved between a patient and a chiropractor, so as long as you can find the specialist that's right for you, chiropractic care is one of the safest options you can undertake!

Think chiropractic treatment may be right for you? Contact us to schedule an appointment with the best chiropractor in Mississauga!