Why Do Some People Advise Against Seeing a Chiropractor in Centennial?
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By Butler Family Health Center · Published 2026-10-16 · Last updated 2026-10-16
Some people advise against seeing a chiropractor because of three real concerns: a rare risk tied to neck manipulation, the chance that a serious problem goes unnoticed, and weak research for claims outside back, neck and headache pain. Each concern has a basis. Each is also a reason a careful exam should come before any adjustment. At Butler Family Health Center, a chiropractor in Centennial in Peakview Center on South Quebec Street, your visit starts with a chiropractic examination.
What the warnings mean for you depends on your health history and which part of the spine hurts. Below are the facts behind each concern, who should talk to a medical doctor first, and how Colorado licenses chiropractors.
The Main Reasons People Warn Against Seeing a Chiropractor in Centennial
The main reasons people warn against seeing a chiropractor in Centennial come down to safety, diagnosis and evidence. Plenty of people still go: a Gallup survey cited by Fox News found that nearly 62 million U.S. adults saw a chiropractor in the past five years. The warnings fall into four groups.
| Concern | What the sources say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Neck manipulation and stroke | Rare neck artery tears have been linked to neck manipulation; experts disagree on whether manipulation causes them | Tell us your neck, blood vessel and stroke history |
| A serious condition gets missed | A spine surgeon told Fox News the worry is an underlying condition going unnoticed; numbness, tingling or weakness warrants a specialist | An examination comes before treatment |
| Claims beyond the spine | No clear benefit shown for conditions such as high blood pressure or menstrual cramps | We treat muscle, joint and nerve complaints and never promise cures |
| Long treatment plans | Treatment beyond 3 months may add no benefit for low back pain | Ask how your exam findings shape any plan |
A Southglenn parent with a stiff lower back and a Cherry Hills Village retiree with osteoporosis face these concerns very differently. The honest answer depends on the person in the exam room.
Why Might a Denver-Area Family Doctor Hesitate to Recommend Chiropractic Care?
A Denver-area family doctor may hesitate to recommend chiropractic care because the research behind spinal manipulation is mixed in quality. The American College of Physicians' 2017 low back pain guideline lists spinal manipulation among the first-line non-drug options for acute and subacute low back pain and calls the reported harms sparse and not severe.
The same guideline rated that evidence as low quality, with minimal functional gains for acute pain and no pain difference from sham treatment in the chronic pain trials it cited. A physician who calls that benefit modest is reading the evidence fairly.
Neck Adjustments and Stroke Risk for Centennial Patients
Neck adjustments and stroke risk are the most serious concern behind the warnings, and the link is rare and still debated. The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says neck manipulation has been linked to rare tears in the neck arteries, called cervical artery dissection, which can lead to stroke. The evidence points to a low incidence, and experts disagree on whether manipulation causes the tears.
NCCIH says no accurate estimates exist for how often serious problems happen. One review reported by Medical News Today put arterial dissection at one per 8.06 million office visits after neck manipulation.
Risk may be higher for people with underlying health problems. Tell us about past strokes, blood vessel disorders, recent neck injuries and medications. That goes for Denver Tech Center desk workers with chronic neck tension and for commuters stiff from long drives on I-25. Reviewers call Dr. Butler's adjustments gentle, and an exam always comes first.
Which Symptoms After an Adjustment Need Urgent Medical Care?
Symptoms after an adjustment that need prompt medical attention include new weakness, numbness or pain that keeps getting worse. Cleveland Clinic advises contacting your provider immediately if any of those appear, and lists rare serious complications such as a herniated disk, cauda equina syndrome and stroke.
Mild soreness, stiffness or a headache usually goes away within 24 hours, according to NCCIH. A 2020 study of 200 people, reported by Medical News Today, found about half had benign side effects like these. If a symptom is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first, then let our office know.
What Research Supports for Back, Neck and Headache Pain in Centennial
Research supports spinal manipulation for some back, neck and headache problems, and that is where care for Centennial patients makes the most sense. NCCIH summarizes the evidence this way:
- Acute low back pain: moderate-quality evidence of modest pain improvement, similar to NSAIDs.
- Chronic low back pain: short-term relief similar to other recommended therapies, with slightly better function.
- Cervicogenic headache and migraine: may improve, though migraine results are preliminary.
- Chronic tension headache: very limited evidence, from one study of 75 participants.
- High blood pressure, menstrual cramps and similar conditions: no clear benefit.
The Merck Manual adds that manipulation for problems outside the musculoskeletal system has not been shown effective. Critics point to this gap, and they are right to. We describe what care aims to do and never promise a cure.
A runner with a sore lower back from miles on the High Line Canal Trail fits the research. So does a walker on Big Dry Creek Trail with a stiff neck. Someone hoping an adjustment will clear up asthma does not.
Centennial Patients Who Should Check With a Doctor Before an Adjustment
Some Centennial patients should check with a medical doctor before getting adjusted, because certain conditions make spinal manipulation a poor fit. The Merck Manual lists these as reasons manipulation should not be done:
- Osteoporosis
- Symptoms of nerve damage or malfunction (neuropathy)
- Previous spinal surgery
- A past stroke
- Blood vessel disorders
NCCIH asks patients to tell the practitioner about every health condition and any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines or supplements they take. Bring that list to your first visit.
Pregnancy calls for the same care. Our office offers pregnancy chiropractic, but NCCIH says research on spinal manipulation during pregnancy is limited and recommends discussing the risks with your provider. Tell us how far along you are and about any complications when you book.
Dr. Butler treats newborns to seniors. Parents in the Cherry Creek School District, which serves most of Centennial, or in the Littleton Public Schools area on the city's west side can bring a child's history the same way.
Where to start, by situation:
- If you have numbness or weakness down an arm or leg, then book an exam so Dr. Butler can evaluate your symptoms, and mention it to your medical doctor too.
- If your neck or back hurts after a crash on East Arapahoe Road or I-25, then book a same-day visit. We accept auto accident and personal injury cases.
- If you have osteoporosis, a past stroke or a blood vessel disorder, then talk with your medical doctor first and tell us about it when you call.
Chiropractor Training and Licensing in Colorado
Chiropractors in Colorado must hold a state license, and Colorado law sets the minimum for who can get one. Under C.R.S. 12-215-108, an applicant must be at least 21, meet the minimum education requirements of the statute and the state board, and pass the board's adopted examinations. Henry Ford Health notes that a Doctor of Chiropractic degree requires a minimum of 4,200 hours of classwork.
Training matters for safety. Cleveland Clinic says the risk of complications is higher when adjustments come from untrained people. Dr. Christopher Butler earned his D.C. at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1996 and has been a chiropractor since 1996. Patients driving in from Littleton, Englewood or Castlewood are welcome to ask about his training at the first visit.
Why Centennial Patients Choose Butler Family Health Center After Hearing the Warnings
Centennial patients who choose Butler Family Health Center after hearing the warnings want those concerns taken seriously and answered plainly. Booking with us includes:
- A chiropractic examination
- Same-day appointments and walk-ins
- Care for every age, from newborns to seniors
- Preferred provider for Anthem, Blue Cross, Aetna, Cofinity, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare and others
- Cash plans for patients without insurance or with high deductibles, plus HSA debit cards, checks, cash and major credit cards
- Auto accident, personal injury, slip and fall, and workers' compensation cases accepted
- 4.9 stars on Google from more than 70 reviews
Reviewers often mention how the visit feels. "From the very beginning, I felt listened to, cared for, and never rushed," wrote Melanie H. Eric R. wrote that Dr. Chris Butler is "very gentle when getting adjusted." Some patients have stayed for years: "I have been coming to Dr Butler for 20 years," said Mike S.
The office is in Peakview Center at 6500 S Quebec St, Suite 250. Patients come from Greenwood Village, Cherry Creek and Denver, and from Southglenn, home of The Streets at SouthGlenn.
The Bottom Line
Some people advise against seeing a chiropractor because neck manipulation carries a rare and debated stroke risk, because a serious condition can go unnoticed, and because research does not back claims outside back, neck and headache pain. Those concerns are real. An exam before any adjustment, honest limits on what care can do and a trained Doctor of Chiropractic answer each of them. If you want a chiropractor in Centennial who listens first, call or text Dr. Butler's office at (303) 741-2444, or walk in for a same-day visit.