Is chiropractic care safe? The evidence, the risks, and the side effects
By Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic, Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic. Published 13 July 2026. Last updated 13 July 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC on 13 July 2026.
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You may have heard stories about a friend of a friend who had their neck tweaked, something felt off after the adjustment, or another tale that made you concerned.
Chiropractic care is a drug free treatment for mechanical spine problems. Regulated by each state, treatment is delivered by a licensed doctor of chiropractic. So, is chiropractic care safe? The research on spinal manipulation safety is extensive and publicly available. This page provides a summary and analysis of current scientific research with sources.
Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC has treated spines in Loudoun County for more than 20 years.
The following summaries will provide answers to common questions we hear at the clinic from people concerned about their first treatment.
Is chiropractic care safe?
Chiropractic care is safe for most people. Mild soreness is common and passes within a day. Serious harm is rare. A Medicare study of more than a million older adults found 40 injuries per 100,000 chiropractic visits compared to 153 per 100,000 primary care visits. Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic screens every patient before any treatment begins.
Source, Spine 2015: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25494315/
Nothing in medicine is risk free. Aspirin has a risk. Physical therapy has a risk. The questions worth asking are what is the risk and its potential severity? How does this treatment compare with the alternatives? What process does the healthcare professional use to ensure potential issues are identified and contemplated in treatment?
Be sure to ask your healthcare professional the questions you have. This helps you make informed decisions regarding your health and wellness.
What are the common chiropractic side effects?
The common chiropractic side effects are local soreness, stiffness, or light headedness. These side effects are temporary and usually are the result of the body realigning from its prior position. When your spine has been in a misaligned position for some time, realignment is not always easily received by the body. A good example is the feeling the day after a new workout.
So what should you expect after your first visit?
Most patients at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic feel better immediately. Some patients feel a soreness in the treated area that evening or the day after.
Ice, hydration, and gentle mindful movement help the soreness dissipate. If anything feels off, call the clinic at 571 707 8639. We want you to be informed and aware of what is happening in your body. New patients receive follow up calls from Dr. Miok during your initial treatment period.
The chiropractic risks discussed clearly
The story you have heard is cervical artery dissection, a tear in an artery in the neck that can lead to a stroke.
This is a concern behind most chiropractic risks conversations, so let’s discuss.
Dissection is a real medical event. It is also very rare. It usually presents with a sudden, unusual neck pain and headache. This neck pain can be what brought a patient to chiropractic treatment in the first place.
The Spine 2008 study found the same stroke association after a family doctor visit as compared to after a chiropractic visit. A family doctor may prescribe medication and send you on to the pharmacy. A chiropractor administers a nondrug treatment to bring relief. Two different treatment options with no increased risk of stroke over the other.
The other chiropractic risks worth naming are rib fracture in fragile bone, a worsened disc herniation, plus injury in patients on blood thinners. These are all rare side effects that are easily screened.
Who should not get a safe chiropractic adjustment, and why
A safe chiropractic adjustment starts with knowing how to screen patients. The Medicare data shows injury risk climbs in specific groups, so those groups get screened out or treated with other chiropractic methods.
- Severe osteoporosis or fragile bone.
- A clotting disorder, or treatment with a blood thinner.
- A known aortic aneurysm.
- Spinal infection, spinal tumour, or an unstable fracture.
- Cauda equina symptoms, meaning saddle numbness and bladder changes. That is an emergency, not a chiropractic case.
- A recent or suspected arterial dissection.
Source for the risk groups, Spine 2015: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25494315/
No one with any of the issues in this list are turned away from the clinic. Everyone is treated with individualized adjustments that are specific to their body and medical condition. If another healthcare professional is needed, Dr. Miok will discuss referral with you.
Is chiropractic care safe for seniors?
Medicare data confirms that chiropractic care is safe for most older adults. In a study comparing health outcomes in adults aged 66 to 99 from chiropractor visits to primary care physician visits, it was found an injury rate of 40 per 100,000 for chiropractor visits and 153 per 100,000 primary care physician visits. Chiropractic seniors safety relies on process screening for osteoporosis, blood thinners, or other conditions that may pose a concern. Treatment is always tailored to the individual for their specific condition and needs.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25494315/
Bone density is one of the factors that requires careful treatment.
At Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic, an older patient with bone density concerns does not receive the same adjustment that would be given to a young athlete. Specific hand positioning, adjustment speed, different tables or adjusting instruments, and other techniques are employed to ensure that the treatment is right for your body.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care is safe for most pregnancies when it is delivered by a trained provider. A systematic review of chiropractic during pregnancy safety found only a handful of minor, transient adverse events in the low back. Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC is Webster Technique certified through the ICPA and coordinates with your OB GYN or midwife when necessary.
Source, systematic review update 2021: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34035539/
We accommodate your needs as they change. As your baby (and belly) grows, we have special padding that cradles your baby so you can receive face down adjustments. Through your transition from one trimester to the next, the approach and technique used will change as well to adapt.
We want to be sure you are supported and have what you need through your journey. Please bring your questions or concerns forward, it is important you have information to help you make the best decision for you and your family. We are happy to team up with other healthcare professionals who are providing you care.
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Chiropractic care for children uses gentle adjustments to realign their spine and posture. Serious adverse events in children are very rare in the published literature. Chiropractic children safety at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic is built on strong screening processes and X-ray evaluation. This ensures we are providing the appropriate treatment for your child’s condition and needs.
Dr. Miok has pediatric chiropractic training through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). This specialty has given her insight into the specific problems that may face young patients. Treatment is always individualized to the child’s age, size, development, health history, and examination findings. We use gentle age-appropriate techniques.
Parents in Lansdowne, Virginia mostly bring kids in for posture correction, sport injuries, and scoliosis screening. However, children’s chiropractic care can treat many more conditions. The goal of pediatric chiropractic care is not simply to “adjust the child’s spine” but to support healthy, comfortable movement as the child grows.
Is chiropractic care safe compared with medication?
On the chiropractic treatment vs medication safety question, the Medicare evidence favors chiropractic care. In older adults with new neck pain, the patient group managed with prescription drug therapy had the highest rate of adverse outcomes, higher than the chiropractic group, and higher than primary care without medication.
How Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic makes an adjustment safe
Yes. Safety here is maintained through a verified process, not guesswork. Before treatment, a thorough exam identifies your condition and goals. Dr. Miok reviews her findings with you and discusses treatment options before anything begins.
The process:
- History — medications, blood thinners, bone density, past strokes, cancer history, recent trauma.
- Spinal evaluation — neurological testing, vascular and ligament screening, movement and functional mobility tests.
- Measurement — posture measured in degrees via X-ray analysis.
- Technique matched to the patient — hand positioning, adjustment speed, table/instrument choice all depend on your specific needs.
- Report before treatment — findings and recommended protocol are shared, with space for your questions, so you can make an informed decision.
Why the training matters: Dr. Miok is trained in Gonstead Methodology and Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) — full-spine corrective methods backed by 300+ peer-reviewed studies. Both rely on measurement, not feel: treatment follows the numbers, and CBP’s safety comes from its process analysis. Over 20 years in Loudoun County, this process has held up every time.
Meet Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC
Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC is the founding chiropractor at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic in Lansdowne, Virginia. She has treated spine and posture correction cases in Loudoun County for more than 20 years, with training in Gonstead Methodology and Chiropractic Biophysics for structural correction, Webster Technique certification through the ICPA, plus pediatric chiropractic. She screens every new patient for red flags before any treatment begins. Read more about Dr. Hyoun at loudounidealchiropractic.com/about-us/.
Her care philosophy in one line
Treat the person, not the X-ray. Dr. Miok starts every plan by asking what you actually want back: a pain free run, a full night’s sleep, lifting your kid without bracing. The spine work serves life, and that’s what holistic care looks like when it’s done right.
Talk to Dr. Miok before you decide
Is chiropractic care safe for you specifically? That is a question best asked during an exam and consultation, instead of on a website. We want you to be informed.
Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic, 19301 Winmeade Drive, Suite 214, Lansdowne, Virginia 20176. Call 571 707 8639 or book online any hour. If your case needs other healthcare professionals, Dr. Miok explains the reasoning and provides a referral direction.
Spinal manipulation safety FAQs
Stroke after a neck adjustment is very rare. The Spine 2008 study found no excess risk compared with a primary care visit, which suggests people with a stroke risk have no greater concern going to a chiropractor than to their primary care physician. Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic screens each patient thoroughly before treatment begins.
No. The sound is gas releasing inside the joint, similar to opening a soda bottle. A safe chiropractic adjustment can happen with no sound at all.
Yes, with the appropriate technique and attention to the surgical site, chiropractic care can be safe after a spinal surgery.
Rare complications may involve the nerves, bones, spine, or blood vessels. Careful screening helps identify potential risks and guide appropriate care.
No. Care at Loudoun Ideal Chiropractic runs in phases with a defined end. You may choose to continue as a maintenance care patient for regular chiropractic care.
Yes. Chiropractors are licensed healthcare professionals who earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited chiropractic college and complete national and state licensing requirements. Their doctoral education includes extensive study in anatomy, physiology, neurology, diagnosis, radiology, and the evaluation and management of musculoskeletal and spinal conditions. Dr. Miok Hyoun, DC is licensed in Virginia.