| Neck manipulations have always been speculated to | | | | Advil, Motrin, Aleve use. 4,166 |
| cause stroke. However evidence shows that a | | | | Paralysis or stroke from back or necksurgery 3,571 |
| common household product may be more dangerous. | | | | Death from automobile accident 750 |
| Probably one of the most effective chiropractic | | | | Stroke from Birth Control Pills 235 |
| adjustments is to the cervical spine. Because virtually | | | | Get struck by lightening 7 |
| every controlling and regulating nerve impulse of your | | | | Death from aviation accident 2 1/2 |
| body passes through the neck, subluxations here can | | | | The National College of Chiropractic Clinic reported |
| have far-reaching effects. Yet, even with the | | | | that over a 15 year period over 5 million neck |
| impressive results, critics have warned that such | | | | adjustments were given without a single vascular |
| adjustments were dangerous. That wrongheaded | | | | injury. |
| notion has been put to rest. | | | | There are tons of biased information floating around |
| A recent Canadian study shows what we've always | | | | the internet about the risk of spinal manipulation, but |
| known. You're no more likely to suffer a stroke | | | | most of the time they provide little or no scientific |
| following a visit to a chiropractor than you would | | | | evidence. |
| visiting a medical doctor. | | | | Considering the general public lack of information |
| Just published in the journal Spine, an international, | | | | supporting chiropractic treatment, many people are |
| peer-reviewed, bi-weekly periodical, the research | | | | still taking a large amount of NSAIDS that cause a lot |
| looked at 818 Canadians who suffered a stroke from | | | | of internal damage and is also associated with a large |
| what is called an "arterial dissection." While rare, it's | | | | number of hospitalizations and deaths. However, |
| believed to be caused by torn arteries supplying | | | | there is not a large effort to minimize the overuse of |
| blood to the brain. A clot forms, which subsequently | | | | NSAIDS. In 1998, Dr. Singh of the Stanford University |
| dislodged, travels to the brain, blocking circulation. | | | | of Medicine reviewed the thousands of medical |
| While researchers confessed that they suspected a | | | | records of arthritis patients at 8 participating |
| link between chiropractic care and stroke, they didn't | | | | institutions. He concluded that approximately 107,000 |
| find one. | | | | patients are hospitalized annually for nonsteroidal |
| According to the American Chiropractic Association, | | | | anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID are anti-inflammatory |
| all available evidence demonstrates that chiropractic | | | | drugs that include Aspirin, Naproxen ("Aleve"), |
| treatment holds an extremely small risk. The | | | | Ibuprofen ("Advil" and "Motrin")-related gastrointestinal |
| chiropractic profession takes this issue very seriously | | | | (GI) complications (internal bleeding) and at least |
| and engages in training and postgraduate education | | | | 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur each year among |
| courses to recognize the risk factors in patients, and | | | | arthritis patients alone. The figures for all NSAID |
| to continue rendering treatment in the most | | | | users would be overwhelming, yet the scope of this |
| effective and responsible manner. | | | | problem is generally un-reported and the public |
| The type of adjustment that has been associated | | | | remains at significant risk. If we calculate the costs |
| with strokes have been from a rotary adjustment, | | | | (direct and indirect) associated with NSAIDs the cost |
| which is basically performed in a rotation type of | | | | is in the billions. |
| maneuver. The preferred method of manipulation is a | | | | I have seen this problem when I worked in the |
| linear adjustment which means it is a direct | | | | hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. A significant |
| adjustment. | | | | amount of patients were taking Tylenol or Motrin for |
| Because the amount of strokes associated with | | | | chronic musculoskeletal pain, commonly the neck and |
| spinal manipulations are so small, it is difficult to | | | | back. These patients were generally admitted for |
| determine what kind of person who would be likely | | | | gastrointestinal bleeding which resulted in Anemia. |
| to have a stroke. In school we were advised that | | | | When a person is anemic there is insufficient amount |
| the highest risk factors would be a female, | | | | of blood circulating, resulting in lack of tissue perfusion |
| overweight, on birth control pills who smokes. To be | | | | and decreased oxygenation. If this condition persists, |
| honest this description for an individual is already | | | | then the tissues will die leading to organ failure. Many |
| unhealthy. | | | | anemic patients develop strokes and/or myocardical |
| However the strokes associated with | | | | infarctions. |
| Compared to chiropractic, the risk of... is greater by... | | | | Considering the evidence that supports the risk |
| Death from spinal fusion surgery 100,000 | | | | involved with chiropractic as opposed to |
| Death from cervical (neck) surgery 34,483 | | | | over-medicating with NSAIDs, chiropractic care must |
| Death from hospital mistake 30,000 | | | | become the standard of care for spinal conditions. |
| Death from laminectomy (spinal surgery) 25,000 | | | | The end results would be decreased incidences of |
| Death from prolonged Aspirin, Tylenol, | | | | NSAID-related disorders and decreased costs. |