What is Chiropractic?
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
About Chiropractic
Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary healthcare profession that specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal disorders and their effects on the nervous system and overall health of the body. The word “Chiropractic” originates from the Greek words “cheiro” (hand) and “praktikos” (doing/ action) which gives the meaning of “done by hand”.
Chiropractic treatment methods mainly consists of spinal adjustments and manual therapy, supplemented by rehabilitative exercises and prescription orthotics. Chiropractors assess various factors such as the patient’s physical, psychological, and social aspects to provide a comprehensive treatment plan, helping patients relieve pain and restore spinal function.
Chiropractic originated in the 1800s and has since evolved through scientific research and evidence-based practice. Aside from a full spine examination, radiography such as full spine X-rays and MRI analysis are also utilized to evaluate the patient’s condition.
There are many relief/ symptom-based treatments available, in contrary, we aim to address the root cause of the problem to provide a true and long-term recovery for our patients.
Conditions Related to Chiropractic
The fast pace of life and high work pressure in Hong Kong can easily lead to muscle strain and other pain issues. Here are common pain problems for which you can seek professional advice from a chiropractor:
1. Frozen shoulder
2. Sciatica, herniated disc, scoliosis
3. Headaches, neck pain, lower back pain, pelvic pain, spinal pain
4. Knee pain, ankle pain
5. Cold back, uneven shoulders, leg length discrepancy
6. Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome
7. Osteoporosis, developmental delays in infants or children
8. Pain after pregnancy and childbirth
9. Sports injuries, traffic accidents
10. Rehabilitation after stroke
11. Rehabilitation after surgery
12. Musculoskeletal issues caused by occupation
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic treatment is commonly used to treat headaches and neck pain, but some patients are concerned that it may cause side effects, particularly strokes. However, a study published in 2016 in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases indicated that there may be no causal relationship between chiropractic treatment and strokes. This study compared the conditions of stroke patients who received chiropractic treatment with those who received care from family doctors, finding that while there was a strong association between chiropractic treatment and strokes in patients under 45, this association was also observed in family doctor patients.
Additionally, a report published by the World Health Organization in 2005 stated that the techniques used by qualified chiropractors are safe, with a very low probability of stroke; the risk of stroke during chiropractic treatment is only between 1 in 2 million to 1 in 5.8 million.
In summary, chiropractic treatment and strokes are only correlated, but there is likely no causal relationship between them.
*Source: Hong Kong Chiropractic College Foundation website https://www.hkccf.org.hk/web/chiropractic_safe.php
If you suspect you have spinal issues, it is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo X-ray diagnostics to check for spinal structural problems.