By Diegel Chiropractic Center — Shelby Township, MI
Quick answer: Yes — for most people, chiropractic care from a licensed chiropractor is safe. Mild soreness after an adjustment is common and usually goes away in a day. Serious problems, like a disc injury or a stroke linked to neck adjustments, are very rare. This guide walks through what the science actually shows, so you can make an informed choice.
Why People Ask This Question
Chiropractic care is one of the most-used natural health treatments in the United States. But a few scary stories online can make anyone nervous. At Diegel Chiropractic Center, we think patients deserve real facts, not guesswork — so here’s what peer-reviewed research says about chiropractic safety.
Chiropractic Myths vs. Facts
| Myth | Fact |
| “Adjustments are dangerous for your spine.” | Most people who get spinal adjustments feel little to no harm. Some feel mild soreness, similar to how muscles feel after exercise. |
| “Once you start, you can’t stop.” | Your care plan is yours. You and your chiropractor decide together how long to continue. |
| “Adjustments hurt.” | An adjustment itself is usually not painful. Mild soreness afterward is common and normally fades within a day. |
| “Chiropractic care causes strokes.” | A large U.S. insurance-claims study of over 1,800 stroke cases found no significant link between chiropractic visits and this type of stroke, in any age group studied. |
What the Research Actually Shows
Mild Side Effects Are Common — and Usually Harmless
In a study that tracked patients after real-world visits to 31 chiropractors and 11 physical therapists across North America, researchers found that about 1 in 5 patients reported some new or worse symptom within a week of their visit. Most of these were mild or moderate — things like soreness, stiffness, or a brief headache — and only a small share were classified as more serious. 📄 Source: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 2024 — read the study
Stroke Risk: What the Biggest Studies Found
This is the safety question people ask about most, so it deserves a full, honest answer.
The concern: Very rarely, a tear in a neck artery (called a cervical artery dissection) can lead to a stroke. Because this kind of tear can cause neck pain and headaches — the same symptoms that bring people to a chiropractor in the first place — some early case reports linked neck adjustments to stroke.
What large studies found: A major Canadian study of hospital records looked at people who had a certain type of stroke (vertebrobasilar stroke) and compared how often they had visited a chiropractor versus a regular medical doctor beforehand. It found people were about equally likely to have visited either type of provider shortly before their stroke. The researchers’ conclusion: patients were likely already experiencing early symptoms of a developing tear, and that’s what sent them to a doctor’s office — of any kind — not that either visit caused the stroke. 📄 Source: Cassidy et al., Spine / European Spine Journal, 2008 — read the study
A separate U.S. study of over 1,800 stroke patients in commercial and Medicare health plans reached a similar conclusion: it found no significant association between chiropractic visits and this type of stroke, in any age group tested. 📄 Source: Kosloff et al., Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 2015 — read the study
How rare is a serious event? One widely cited estimate, based on malpractice claim records, put the chance of a stroke or artery tear after a neck adjustment at about 1 in 5.85 million adjustments. Other researchers argue the true number could be somewhat higher because many milder or delayed events may go unreported, and the science on this exact number is still debated among researchers. 📄 Source: Cureus / PMC narrative review, 2024 — read the review
Bottom line: Major medical and chiropractic research groups agree this kind of stroke is very rare, and it’s still debated whether an adjustment can ever be a true cause versus a coincidence in someone already developing a problem. This is why chiropractors screen your health history and watch for warning signs (like sudden dizziness, vision changes, or slurred speech) before and after neck adjustments.
Low Back Adjustments and Nerve Injuries
For the low back, the worry is a rare condition called cauda equina syndrome (CES) — pressure on a bundle of nerves at the base of the spine that needs emergency care.
A large U.S. health-records study compared adults with low back pain who received chiropractic spinal manipulation to a matched group who saw a physical therapist without spinal manipulation. Over three months, CES occurred at a similarly low rate in both groups — about 0.07% — meaning chiropractic adjustments were not linked to a higher rate of this rare emergency. 📄 Source: Trager et al., PLOS ONE, 2024 — read the study
An earlier systematic review estimated the risk of spinal manipulation causing a worsened disc problem or CES in patients with a known disc herniation at less than 1 in 3.7 million treatments — and noted this appeared safer than some other common treatments for the same condition. 📄 Source: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (via PubMed) — read the abstract
Chiropractic Care for Children
Parents often ask if adjustments are safe for kids. Here’s what the evidence honestly shows:
A review of pediatric manual therapy research found that serious adverse events are rare, similar to what’s seen in adults, but noted that high-quality safety studies specifically in children are limited, so exact risk numbers for kids aren’t as well established as they are for adults. 📄 Source: Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 2010 — read the review
A separate scoping review looking at spinal manipulation for infants, children, and teens found mild, temporary symptoms were commonly reported, and it noted that strong evidence supporting effectiveness for non-musculoskeletal conditions (like colic or ear infections) is currently lacking — while spinal manipulation for musculoskeletal issues (like back or neck pain) has more support. 📄 Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022 — read the review
What this means: At Diegel Chiropractic Center, we use gentler, modified techniques for children and are upfront that pediatric research is still growing — we’ll always explain exactly what we recommend and why.
Who Should Be Extra Careful
Chiropractic adjustments may not be right for everyone. Tell your chiropractor if you have:
- Severe osteoporosis or bone-weakening conditions
- A known spinal fracture, tumor, or infection
- A diagnosed connective tissue disorder (like Ehlers-Danlos or Marfan syndrome)
- A history of stroke, artery dissection, or unexplained sudden neurological symptoms
- Recent major trauma to your neck or spine
Sharing your full health history lets your chiropractor choose techniques that fit your body safely — or refer you elsewhere if that’s the better choice.
How Diegel Chiropractic Center Keeps You Safe
- Full Health History & Exam — We review your medical history and do a physical exam before any hands-on treatment.
- Personalized Techniques — Your plan is built around your body, your condition, and your comfort level.
- Clear Communication — We explain each technique before we use it and check in on how you’re feeling.
- Gentle Alternatives Available — If you’re unsure about spinal manipulation, we offer soft-tissue therapy, mobilization, massage therapy, therapeutic exercises, and cold laser therapy instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic adjustments cause a stroke? Large population studies have found no significant increase in stroke risk linked to chiropractic visits compared with visits to a medical doctor for similar symptoms. Serious events tied to neck adjustments are considered very rare, though scientists continue to study and debate the exact numbers.
Is it normal to feel sore after an adjustment? Yes. Mild soreness, stiffness, or tiredness for a day or so is common and usually goes away on its own. Ice and water can help. It’s more akin to your body being sore after a workout. It’s just the body getting used to its new positioning.
Is chiropractic care safe for children and seniors? Chiropractors use gentler, age-appropriate techniques for kids and older adults. Research on serious risks in these groups is more limited than for adults overall, so ask your provider what evidence supports your specific situation. We at Diegel Chiropractic have been successfully treating entire families for over 30 years. If Dr. Diegel feels like he can’t help; he will make sure to refer you to the proper provider for your child’s condition.
Can I get adjusted if I’ve had back surgery or have a chronic condition? Often yes, but it depends on your specific history. We coordinate with your other medical providers and adjust our approach as needed.
How do I know my chiropractor is qualified? Check that they’re licensed in your state and keep up with continuing education. Our team at Diegel Chiropractic Center meets all Michigan licensing and training requirements.
What should I do if discomfort lasts more than a day or two? Contact your chiropractor. Most soreness fades within 24–48 hours; anything longer or more severe should be checked out.
Talk to a Licensed Chiropractor About Your Safety Questions
The best way to know if chiropractic care is right for you is a real evaluation with a licensed provider who reviews your full health history.
Diegel Chiropractic Center 49780 Van Dyke Ave, Shelby Twp, MI 48317 📞 (586) 254-2060 🌐 diegelchiropractic.com
References
- “What’s the harm? Results of an active surveillance adverse event reporting system for chiropractors and physiotherapists.” Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 2024. NCBI
- Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, et al. “Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care.” Spine / European Spine Journal, 2008. PMC
- Kosloff TM, Elton D, Tao J, Bannister WM. “Chiropractic care and the risk of vertebrobasilar stroke: results of a case–control study.” Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 2015. NCBI
- “Plausible Mechanisms of Causation of Immediate Stroke by Cervical Spine Manipulation: A Narrative Review.” NCBI
- Trager RJ, Baumann AN, Perez JA, et al. “Association between chiropractic spinal manipulation and cauda equina syndrome in adults with low back pain.” PLOS ONE, 2024. NCBI
- “Safety of spinal manipulation in the treatment of lumbar disk herniations: a systematic review and risk assessment.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. PubMed
- “Possible adverse events in children treated by manual therapy: a review.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 2010. NCBI
- “Spinal manipulation and mobilisation in the treatment of infants, children, and adolescents: a systematic scoping review.” Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022. NCBI