Getting the neck adjusted by a chiropractor or osteopathic doctor may be associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to a scientific statement released on Aug. 7, 2014 by the American Heart Association. Manipulating the neck has been associated with a small tear in the artery walls in the neck, cervical artery dissection,and can lead to stroke. Such a tear occurs also with a sudden movement that can hyperextend or rotate the neck, whiplash or sporting events, or even violent coughing or vomiting. The techniques for cervical manipulation, even though they vary among health professionals, include a rotation of the neck and sometimes a forceful thrust. Patients should be informed of this association before undergoing neck manipulation. Chiropractors should discuss the potential stroke risk of neck manipulation with any patient who has other risk factors for stroke, such as cardiovascular disease, family history of stroke or severe headaches. Dr. Jose Biller, chair of neurology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, published in the Aug. 7 online edition of the journal Stroke.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 05:29:38 +0000
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