Studies show older chiropractic patients have a lower risk of a traumatic injury after the visit when compared to primary care visits for a similar condition

One of the biggest changes that occur in patients who are under chiropractic care is that they walk better. While on the surface, this would seem to be a huge claim, there is a science and an engineering aspect to this. If someone is having back, neck, hip or shoulder pain and is treated for that mechanically based condition, they will indeed walk better and have better balance. When comparing this to a typical visit by a primary care doctor who treats the pain with medication or some other means, since the physical condition has not changed, neither has their gait. Back and neck problems have a huge gait component and when a person gait is compromised, they will walk improperly and in an imbalanced way, increasing the likelihood of a fall or a misstep. A recent study in Spine evaluated patients who visited a chiropractor for a painful back or other musculoskeletal problem and found that those who had visited the chiropractor had far fewer falls after the visit than those who visited a primary care doctor alone. This study illustrates the need for more primary care doctors referring their patients in pain to chiropractors, rather than using pain medication for relief only; it is safer for them once they leave the office. Check out the study here

Risk of Traumatic Injury Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Aged 66-99.