Osteopathy is considered very safe. But there are risks associated with any type of treatment. Osteopaths undergo five years of university training and are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency with your safety as a high priority. Training prepares osteopaths to examine and screen for potential conditions that indicate where referral is required or where certain osteopathic techniques should not be used, thereby minimizing your exposure to unnecessary risk.

Research has found that around half of patients who undergo manual treatment experience mild to moderate reactions, especially after the first treatment, including:

• soreness
• local discomfort
• tiredness
• headache
• stiffness.

Generally, treatment reactions ease within 24 to 48 hours.

In patients undergoing high velocity cervical spine (neck) manipulation, serious side effects, including stroke and death, are rare, reported to occur in between 1 in 400,000–6,000,000 neck manipulations.

By comparison, taking anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. nurofen, ibuprofen, aspirin) for at least two months leads to an annual hospitalization rate in Australia of 1 in 400 users due to stomach ulcer, bleeding or perforation and death in 1 in 1,200 users. Estimates indicate that lower back manipulation is 37,000–148,000 times safer than anti-inflammatory medication, and 50,000–450,000 times safer than surgery, for the treatment of lower back disc herniation.

Spinal manipulation is not necessary to achieve successful clinical outcomes. There are other techniques available that achieve similar results. Some people feel great satisfaction after spinal manipulation and others are averse to it. Please let your osteopath know your preference.

We urge you to contact the clinic if you have any concerns about any side-effects after your treatment.