In the evolving landscape of healthcare, chiropractic care has grown from a niche therapy into a widely recognized, evidence-based approach for managing musculoskeletal conditions. While many still associate chiropractic primarily with spinal adjustments or “cracking backs,” the profession has matured into a comprehensive form of care that blends manual therapy, exercise prescription, ergonomic advice, and patient education.

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially those involving the spine, joints, muscles, and nerves.

Chiropractors are university-trained primary healthcare practitioners who are regulated in many countries worldwide, including Australia, the UK, Canada, and the United States. In Australia, they are registered under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), just like Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Podiatrists, and GPs.

Chiropractic treatment typically involves hands-on techniques such as spinal adjustments or mobilisations, soft tissue therapy, stretching, and rehabilitative exercises. Importantly, modern chiropractic is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Chiropractors tailor their care to each individual, based on clinical guidelines, patient goals, and current research.

What Conditions Do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractors help manage a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints, the most common include:

  • Low Back Pain: Low back pain is common and affects most people at some point in their lives. Chiropractic care, particularly spinal manipulation, has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and improving function. A 2017 systematic review published in JAMA concluded that spinal manipulative therapy provided modest but significant benefits for acute low back pain (Paige et al., 2017).
  • Neck Pain and Headaches: Neck pain and certain types of headaches (e.g. cervicogenic headaches, tension-type headaches, and migraines) can respond well to chiropractic care. A randomized control trial in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found a significant reduction in migraine frequency and duration with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (Tuchin et al., 2000)
  • Joint and Muscle Problems: Chiropractors also treat shoulder dysfunction, hip impingement, sciatica, knee osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle overuse injuries. Soft tissue therapy and guided rehabilitation are often included in treatment plans to restore strength and mobility.
  • Sports Injuries and Performance: Athletes often turn to chiropractic to manage injury, prevent recurrence, and optimize movement. Treatments may include biomechanical assessments, active release techniques, and sports-specific exercise programs.
  • Postural Strain and Occupational Injuries: Sedentary workers, manual labourers, and those exposed to repetitive strain often benefit from chiropractic care that combines ergonomic advice, exercise prescription, and hands-on therapy.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

When performed by a qualified and registered professional, chiropractic care is considered safe and effective for most people. Like any healthcare intervention, minor side effects such as temporary soreness or fatigue can occur after treatment, but serious adverse events are extremely rare. A 2023 review published in the British Medical Journal (The BMJ) found that the incidence of serious complications from spinal manipulation was very low (Gorrell et al., 2023).

Chiropractors are trained to recognise when referral to another health professional is needed. This may be for imaging, medication, or further medical evaluation. Collaborative care is common, especially for more complex cases.

What Does the Research Say?

Despite outdated stereotypes, chiropractic care is now increasingly supported by high-quality evidence. For example:

  • The Lancet 2018 series on low back pain recommended manual therapy — including chiropractic care — as a first-line treatment, ahead of opioids, injections, or surgery (Hartvigsen et al., 2018).
  • A randomised controlled trial in PLOS ONE showed that patients who received regular maintenance care from chiropractors experienced fewer days with bothersome low back pain compared to those who only sought care when symptoms returned (Eklund et al., 2018).
  • A study published in Pain Medicine found that patients who saw a chiropractor for spinal pain were significantly less likely to require prescription opioids (Whedon et al., 2020).

This growing body of evidence supports chiropractic as a valuable part of the broader healthcare system, especially for people seeking non-drug, non-surgical approaches to pain and function.

Conclusion

Chiropractic care is much more than just “back cracking”. It’s a regulated, evidence-based health profession that plays a key role in managing pain, improving mobility, and supporting physical wellbeing without relying on medication or invasive procedures.

For those seeking a hands-on, personalised approach to musculoskeletal care, chiropractic may be an ideal option to help restore movement, reduce discomfort, and promote a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Article written by

Michael Corben B.Sc. (Biomed), M.Chiro

Chiropractor