Study in Spine Journal: Chiropractic safe for older adults.

In a recent study, published in the medical journal Spine, researchers reviewed 6 million records for Medicare beneficiaries who visited a Chiropractor or a primary care provider. 

“In conclusion, among Medicare beneficiaries ages 66-99 with an office visit risk for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, risk of injury to the head, neck or trunk within seven days was 76% lower among subjects with a chiropractic office visit as compared to those who saw a primary care physician. Among subjects who saw a chiropractor, the likelihood of injury was increased in those with chronic coagulation defect, inflammatory spondylopathy, osteoporosis, aortic aneurysm and dissection, or long term use of anticoagulant therapy.”

It is always wise for patients to be checked for any vascular issues which could be present.

“The cumulative probability of injury in the chiropractic cohort was 40 injury incidents per 100,000 subjects, as compared to 153 incidents per 100,000 subjects in the primary care cohort.”

Whedon JM, Mackenzie TA, Phillips RB, Lurie JD. Risk of traumatic injury associated with chiropractic spinal manipulation. Spine 2014;Dec 9.