Adverse events following chiropractic care for subjects with neck or low-back pain: do the benefits outweigh the risks?
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.
Rubinstein
Sidney M
SM
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, EMGO-Institute, VU University Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sm.rubinstein@vumc.nl
D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000209:etiology; D011634:Public Health; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology