2015-04-15 08:28:29
It is important to quantify the risks and benefits of any treatment approach. Chiropractic has in the past been criticized from a safety perspective due to an increased risk of stroke, and as a result has been extensively studied. This particular article looked at Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years with neck pain (1). This study was a retrospective cohort analysis, looking at people who visited chiropractors or primary care physicians for neck pain. The results of the study showed that a proportion of subjects with any type of stroke in the chiropractic cohort was 1.2 per 1000 at 7 days and 5.1 per 1000 at 30 days. Compared to primary care cohort, which was 1.4 per 1000 at 7 days and 2.8 per 1000 at 30 days. Overall, the risk of stroke decreased from chiropractic during the 7 days, but increased over the 30 days from a slight elevation. The authors conclude that the risk of vertebrobasiliar stroke due to chiropractic was extremely low.
References
- Whedon JM, et al. Risk of stroke after chiropractic spinal manipulation in medicare B beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015;38(2):93-101.