Is the risk real?
Chiropractic is the largest alternative medicine profession in the United States, and probably the most debated. Undeniably, the hottest debated topic concerning chiropractic is stroke risk. But are you really flirting with death when you visit a Chiropractor? This article, written with common argument headers, attempts to discern if cervical manipulation is a risky treatment, especially when compared with other popular treatment options.
Neck manipulation dissects the vertebral basilar artery leading to stroke…
The most basic argument that needs to be proven for anti-manipulation activists to have a ground to stand on is whether a neck manipulation has the physical means to cause a stroke. Detractors claim that forceful manipulation of the neck dissects the vertebral basilar artery, which passes through the atlas (top neck bone/vertebrae) before it enters the skull. This dissection is caused by either the physical stretching of the artery or by its contact with the bone. This very idea is actually what many chiropractic colleges teach, but its reality becomes doubtful when viewing the research.
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