Advantages and disadvantages of

chiropractic treatment
by Muhammad Ali Siddiqui
Roll no:4-7/2022/010
Background:
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that cares for your neuromusculoskeletal system—the
bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A chiropractor helps manage back and neck
pain through the use of spinal adjustments to maintain good alignment.

Intro:
Chiropractic is focused on the body's ability to self-heal and includes other treatments like
nutrition and exercise.
By improving the neuromusculoskeletal system's ability to perform, chiropractors believe the
benefits of spinal adjustment and realigning joints improve the functioning of other systems
throughout the body.

Literature review:
Advantages:
Chiropractic treatments are quite inexpensive and short sessions do the
trick. Chiropractic maintenance can provide important health benefits, including
relief from back and neck conditions, arm or wrist pain, sleep disorders, arthritis
stress and tension disorders, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, sciatica, knee, foot, and
ankle pain, fibromyalgia, bursitis and many more.

As a whole, chiropractic care helps for sports injuries, preventing the degradation
of the joints of extremities and the spine, helping with chronic conditions like
arthritis, endinitis, compressions, disc herniation, nerve irritation, etc.
Chiropractic care is seen to be beneficial for neck pains and headaches. It can also
improve nervous system function, provide preventative care, relieve prenatal
discomfort, and Increase vitality.

1. Eases back and neck pain – Chiropractic care can soothe back
and neck discomfort. It focuses on aligning the spine, which can help
alleviate pain in these areas.
2. Improves joint mobility – It’s also beneficial for improving joint
mobility. Regular sessions can help enhance flexibility and reduce
stiffness in joints.
3. Boosts body’s healing process – Chiropractic treatments can
give a boost to your body’s natural healing process. This happens as it
improves blood flow and reduces inflammation.
4. Reduces headache frequency – If you often have headaches,
chiropractic care might help. It can decrease the frequency of headaches
by relieving tension in the neck and spine.
5. Enhances athletic performance – For athletes, chiropractic can
enhance performance. It helps in maintaining optimal physical condition,
reducing injury risk, and improving muscle strength and coordination.

Disadvantages:
Chiropractic care comes with its fair share of risks. These risks range from bone
damage to a fatal stroke. But there are quite some discrepancies when it comes to
the credibility of chiropractic care in scientific study and personal anecdotes. The
personal anecdotes sing wonders. On the other hand, scientific studies aren’t big
fans.

Chiropractic care revolves mostly around spinal manipulation. However, neck

adjustment is different. It is more sensitive and has quite a concerning risk added
to it. A study released by the American Heart Association in 2014 shows that neck
adjustment by a chiropractor may be linked to an increased risk of stroke. And a
number of reports on deaths due to chiropractic neck adjustment came to light
recently.
These treatments require quite several visits to the chiropractor. So even though
a single session may seem cheap, the bill stacks up along with the number of
sessions.

Since chiropractic care is basically the manipulation of the spine and usually
requires high-velocity thrusts. People with bone damage are advised not to
undergo chiropractic care due to increased chances of bone damage.

1. Can cause discomfort or pain – Chiropractic care can lead to

feelings of discomfort or even pain during or after treatment sessions.
2. Not effective for all conditions – It doesn’t work well for all
medical conditions, so it may not be the best choice for everyone.
3. Risks of spinal injury – There’s a risk of spinal injuries, which can
be severe and long-lasting, if the treatment is not done correctly.
4. High treatment costs – The cost for chiropractic treatment can be
high, making it less accessible for some people.
5. Limited scientific research support – The scientific backing for
chiropractic care is limited, meaning there’s still a lot we don’t know
about its effectiveness and safety.

Methodology:
1. Chiropractic Adjustments:
This is the most common method used in chiropractic care. It involves the
application of controlled force to a specific joint in the spine that is
experiencing limited movement. This helps to improve the function of the joint
and allow proper nervous system function, which alleviates pain.

2. Activator Technique:
This technique uses a small, handheld instrument called an Activator to deliver
a gentle impulse to the spine or joints of the extremities. It is a less forceful
alternative to spinal manipulation. It is often used for patients who prefer a
softer touch, don’t like ‘popping’ or ‘clicking’ noises in their spine, or for those
who are in acute pain.

3. Flexion-Distraction:
This is a gentle, non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation used to treat sciatica,
lower back pain, herniated discs and spinal stenosis. It involves a unique table
that stretches the spine and allows the chiropractor to isolate the affected area
while slightly flexing it in a pumping rhythm.

4. Diversified Technique:
This hands-on technique involves adjusting the spine to help reduce pain and
improve joint mobility. It can sometimes result in a ‘popping’ or ‘clicking’
sound.

5. Logan Basic Technique:

This is a very low force, hands on technique that the chiropractors at Sleigh
Family Chiropractic mainly use for infants. It involves gentle, finger weight
pressure to improve spinal alignment and nervous system function. Many
infants sleep right through their adjustments!

6. Drop Table Technique:

This technique is a hands on technique that utilizes a special table to aid in the
adjustment. The movement of the table augments what the chiropractors’ hands
do, so there is less force needed to achieve the adjustment. This technique is
commonly used in our office for patients who do not like ‘popping’ or
‘clicking’.

7. Webster Technique:
This technique is specifically used for pregnant women, and all the
chiropractors at Sleigh Family Chiropractic are certified by the International
Chiropractic Pediatric Association to perform it. The Webster Technique is an
analysis and adjustment to ensure proper motion and alignment in the pelvis,
sacrum, and surrounding muscles and ligaments.

Results:
Chiropractic adjustment can be effective in treating low back pain, although much
of the research done shows only a modest benefit — similar to the results of
more-conventional treatments. Some studies suggest that spinal manipulation
may also be effective for headaches and other spine-related conditions, such as
neck pain.

Not everyone responds to chiropractic adjustments. A lot depends on your

particular situation. If your symptoms don't begin to improve after several weeks
of treatments, chiropractic adjustment might not be the best option for you .
Conclusion:
In conclusion, chiropractic can be beneficial for certain musculoskeletal
conditions, but it’s not appropriate for everyone and it’s not a panacea. It’s
important to approach chiropractic as one part of a comprehensive healthcare
plan that includes other healthy lifestyle choices

References:
 https://www.ameriwellclinics.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-seeking-
chiropractic-care/
 https://aspiringyouths.com/advantages-disadvantages/chiropractic/
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/
about/pac-20393513#:~:text=Results,results%20of%20more
%2Dconventional%20treatments .
 https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/chiropractor
 https://chiropractic.campbellsville.edu/exploring-chiropractic-methods/
#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20different%20methods,electrotherapy
%2C%20exercise%20and%20rehabilitation%2C%20and