Chiropractic Cervical Treatment Facts

When it comes to chiropractic, the cervical treatment (or neck adjustment) is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts. When people unfamiliar with chiropractic imagine a cervical treatment, they often picture an abrupt twisting of the neck accompanied by an unpleasant popping sound. This sort of depiction has been popularized in popular media, but it’s hardly representative of an actual cervical treatment.

What Is a Cervical Treatment?

In terms of chiropractic, a cervical treatment is a gentle adjustment of one or more joints in the neck, done within the normal range of motion. The usual range is less than that required when a person turns his or her head to back up a car.

Adjustment of the cervical joints involves very little pressure. The chiropractor must rely on skill, not strength, to make a safe and effective adjustment. For this reason, patients should only undergo cervical treatment at the hands of a licensed and trained doctor of chiropractic.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Cervical Treatment

Chiropractic cervical treatment is a non-invasive and drug-free alternative for treating neck pain caused by stress or tension. Adjustment or manipulation is precise and gentle, and can return motion to restricted cervical joints and improve the functionality of the neck. A proper cervical treatment can release tension and increase motion, as well as relieve pain.

The Risks of Chiropractic Cervical Treatment

A cervical treatment carried out by a qualified chiropractor is very safe and very gentle. However, there is a very rare risk of stroke or stroke-like symptoms associated with chiropractic adjustment or manipulation of the neck. According to a number of published studies, the number of cases in which cervical treatment results in strokes is one or two in every million. Advocators of chiropractic like to point out that you stand a better chance of dying from consuming aspirin or getting struck by lightning.

Some preexisting conditions may be exacerbated by chiropractic adjustments, so patients should always get a proper diagnosis and physical exam before undergoing any kind of cervical treatment.