Introduction to biomechanics


Is Chiropractic Treatment Dangerous?

We've all heard stories about someone who wascontrol group. So an association was drawn
crippled or even killed by a Chiropractor.between manipulation and strokes. The problem
Sometimes we're even warned by our familywith making such an opinion is that headaches
doctor not to let our Chiropractor adjust usand neck pain are the early symptoms of this
as it may cause a stroke. Even the L.A. Timestype of stroke. So of course more people with
recently called the safety of manipulationneck pain and headaches sought chiropractic
into question. Just how safe is chiropracticcare versus those who were in the control
treatment? What are the facts? 1. Due to thegroup who were pain free. This illustrates
extreme rarity of injuries caused bythe problem with association-type studies.
Chiropractic treatment and its unequaledThey don't show the cause only association.
safety record, chiropractic doctors pay onlyFor example, the following is a common
a fraction (i.e. 1/10 to 1/50) theexample taught in research courses that warn
malpractice rates compared to medicalagainst making conclusions from such studies.
physicians. (1) 2. Only 19 deaths have beenSince there are more churches in violent
attributed to Chiropractic treatmentneighborhoods, churches lead to violence.
worldwide over the latest 65 years studiedActually, establishing churches are a
(1934-1999). In fact, the risk of "seriousreaction to people living in a violent
injury" from anti-inflammatory medicationneighborhood, not a cause. In fact, another
including Aspirin and Advil is 400 timesstudy published by the same journal,
greater than from manipulation. (2) In other"Neurology," found fewer people having
words, it's much safer to have a chiropracticstrokes if they were adjusted than the
treatment for your neck pain or headache thencontrol group that wasn't. Unfortunately,
taking medicine (over the counter orthat never made the newspapers nor did most
prescribed). 3. Nearly 10,000 studies haveof the other studies which showed
been performed on manipulation (making it thechiropractic treatment far safer than all
most thoroughly studied form of treatment forother medical treatments. Why the media
back pain) and the great majority have foundprints inflammatory stories while ignoring
the following when compared to medicalothers that would put your mind at ease is
treatment: a. Increased patient satisfaction.beyond the scope of this paper. But it is
b. Shortened time to return to activities orunfortunate that people are being scared away
work. c. Less permanent disability. d. Lessfrom a treatment that is absolutely safer and
costly. The governments of several countries,more effective and by default being directed
including the United States (A.H.C.P.R.) andto one that has significantly greater risks.
Canada (Manga), have found manipulation to bePersonally, between Dr. Murray and myself, we
the most effective form of treatment for backhave practiced about 40 years and have never
pain. In fact, the Canadian report suggestedinjured anyone (more than some temporary
that Chiropractors be the "gate keepers" forsoreness as part of the treatment). The real
back pain saying that it would save Canadadanger comes from having musculoskeletal
hundreds of millions of dollars if theirproblems that are covered-up with drugs and
citizens saw Chiropractor's first. Aftersurgery. Since the cause is not addressed
reviewing all published studies, it wasthis way, the patients often get worse, more
determined that there were "no medicaldiscouraged and depressed and there are often
procedures that were as safe as Chiropracticside effects. We use only the safest of all
treatment." The British Medical Journal andprocedures and specifically screen for all
the U.S. Department of Health and Humanrisk factors that make manipulation unsafe.
Services found similar results. In fact, theI'm sure you have already noted how thorough
U.S. government reported that physicalwe are. This is the only way that you should
therapy and acupuncture were not "costbe treated by any of your doctors. If you
effective" and that surgery was useful inever have questions about the risks or
only 1% of cases. Further, the report wasbenefits of any procedure, always feel free
emphatic that they should be employed onlyto speak to us directly. (1) Malpractice
after conservative approaches (likeStatistics from the National Chiropractic
manipulation) were first exhausted. So whyMutual Insurance Company, West Des Moines,
are there still news reports of the dangersIowa. (2) Terrett, A, Current Concepts in
of Chiropractic? Lets take a look at the lastVertebrobasilar Complications, NCMIC Group,
article that was reported by the journal,Inc.,  2001,  p  199.
"Neurology", and reported in the L.A. Times.
The study found that seven out of the 51Dr. Rick Morris is the founder of the The
people questioned who had a stroke wereMorris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center in
adjusted by a Chiropractor in the previousSanta Monica, Ca.
month. This compared to two of those in the



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