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Chiropractic involves spinal manipulation to treat a wide range of conditions. Chiropractors believe that disease is caused by pinched nerves in the spine.
Manipulating or adjusting the spine is thought to remove the pinched nerves, or subluxations, which will allow the body to heal. Chiropractic was developed in 1895 and has grown to be one of the most popular alternative therapies. Many believe it's so popular that it shouldn't be called "alternative" medicine.
People commonly use chiropractic manipulation for back pain, neck pain, and headache. It is also used for joint pain, migraine, high blood pressure, scoliosis, anxiety, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.
- Back pain. Most clinical research shows that chiropractic manipulation and traction can reduce low back pain and improve function in adults.
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- Migraine headache. Chiropractic manipulation seems to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
Login for details - Neck pain. Most clinical research shows that thoracic or cervical chiropractic manipulation can reduce pain and improve function in adults with acute or chronic neck pain. Chiropractic manipulation also seems to improve the incidence, severity, and duration of cervicogenic headache in adults.
Login for details - Tension headache. Chiropractic spinal manipulation seems to reduce the frequency of headaches and the associated use of analgesia in patients with tension headaches.
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- Asthma. Chiropractic manipulation does not seem to be beneficial for asthma.
Login for details - Cognitive function. Chiropractic manipulation does not seem to improve reaction or response time in healthy adults.
Login for details - Hypertension. Chiropractic manipulation does not seem to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
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- Anxiety. It is unclear if chiropractic care is beneficial in patients with anxiety.
Login for details - Athletic performance. Chiropractic manipulation might improve athletic performance in adults with musculoskeletal complaints, but not in those without musculoskeletal issues.
Login for details - Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Login for details - Colic. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in infants with colic.
Login for details - Complex regional pain syndrome. Login for details
- Dysmenorrhea. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with dysmenorrhea.
Login for details - Epilepsy. Login for details
- Fall prevention. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation for prevention of falls in older adults.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with fibromyalgia.
Login for details - Frozen shoulder. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with frozen shoulder.
Login for details - Headache. It is unclear if chiropractic care is beneficial in patients with post-traumatic headache.
Login for details - Heart failure. Login for details
- Herniated disc. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with herniated lumbar and cervical discs.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with HIV.
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- Jet lag. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in junior athletes with jet lag.
Login for details - Joint pain. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic care in runners with joint pain.
Login for details - Menorrhagia. Login for details
- Nocturnal enuresis. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial for nocturnal enuresis in children.
Login for details - Otitis media. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in children with otitis media.
Login for details - Pain (acute). There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with acute musculoskeletal chest pain.
Login for details - Pain (chronic). It is unclear if chiropractic care is beneficial for patients with nonspecific pain.
Login for details - Pelvic pain. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with pelvic pain.
Login for details - Peptic ulcers. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with duodenal ulcers.
Login for details - Physical performance. It is unclear if the use of chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in older adults with neck and back disability.
Login for details - Pregnancy-related pain. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in pregnant patients with pelvic girdle pain.
Login for details - Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with PMS.
Login for details - Sciatica. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation improves pain in patients with sciatica.
Login for details - Scoliosis. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
Login for details - Shoulder pain. There is limited evidence on the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with should pain.
Login for details - Sprains. Chiropractic care may improve pain and range of motion in patients with recent neck and ankle sprains.
Login for details - Stroke. It is unclear if chiropractic spinal adjustments are beneficial in patients with subacute or chronic stroke.
Login for details - Temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Chiropractic manipulation may not reduce pain in patients with TMD.
Login for details - Vertigo. It is unclear if chiropractic manipulation is beneficial in patients with cervical vertigo.
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Chiropractic procedures are likely safe for most people when done correctly. However, procedures on the neck can cause side effects including headache, neck pain, and neck stiffness. Some side effects have been severe, such as stroke and bleeding around the spine. But this seems to be very rare.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Chiropractic procedures are possibly safe when used during pregnancy for up to 10 weeks.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if chiropractic procedures are safe when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Chiropractic procedures are possibly safe in children when done correctly, short term. Serious side effects are rare, but some cases of bleeding in the brain have been reported in children.
Cancer: People with certain cancers that reduce bone density or bone strength might have an increased risk of bone fractures during treatment.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Warfarin is used to thin the blood. People taking warfarin might be more likely to experience bleeding around the spine after receiving chiropractic neck treatments. If you are taking warfarin, avoid getting chiropractic neck treatments.
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Chiropractic treatment techniques vary widely with different patients and practitioners. A chiropractic treatment is usually 15-30 minutes. A typical treatment course involves about 6 sessions usually given once weekly. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before using this treatment.
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