Adverse events among seniors receiving spinal manipulation and exercise in a randomized clinical trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

241 patients aged 65+ with chronic neck pain were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive home exercise, supervised rehabilitative exercise in addition to home exercise, or spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) with home exercise for 12 weeks in order to assess the type, incidence, and seriousness of resultant adverse events (AEs). The study found that AEs occurred most often in the supervised rehabilitative and home exercise group, and least in the group receiving home exercise alone. Non-serious related AEs were most often musculoskeletal (MSK) in nature. One serious related AE occurred in the supervised rehabilitative and home exercise group and involved a radial head fracture.