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