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Chiropractic Neck Adjustments Not Linked to Higher Artery-Tear Risk, Large Study Shows
By Drooid · · How we work
Study Findings
A new analysis of health-care records indicates that receiving cervical spinal manipulation from a chiropractor does not increase the likelihood of a cervical artery dissection, a rare but serious tear that can lead to stroke. The researchers concluded that the evidence supports the safety of chiropractic neck adjustments for patients with new-onset neck pain or headache.
Study Design and Population
The investigation examined records for more than 862,000 U.S. adults who sought care for a first episode of neck pain or headache between 2010 and 2025. Participants were divided into two groups: those who received chiropractor-administered neck manipulation and those who were prescribed ibuprofen for symptom relief. The study was published in *Chiropractic & Manual Therapies* and was conducted by a team that includes Christine Goertz, a professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
Comparative Risk Outcomes
Within 30 days of the index visit, 31 patients in the chiropractic cohort were diagnosed with cervical artery dissection, compared with 58 patients in the ibuprofen cohort. These figures translate to a lower absolute number of dissections among those who received manipulation, and the analysis found no statistical evidence that the chiropractic procedure raised the risk relative to medication.
Clinical Implications
The results address a common patient concern about the safety of neck adjustments. While the study does not identify an increased risk, the authors advise clinicians and patients to remain vigilant for warning signs such as sudden or atypical headache, new-onset neck pain, or neurological symptoms that could indicate an arterial tear.
Recommendations and Future Monitoring
Health-care providers are encouraged to continue monitoring patients for the listed warning signs after any neck-pain treatment, whether chiropractic or pharmacologic. The Cleveland Clinic is cited as a source of additional information on cervical artery dissection. Further research may refine risk estimates, but current evidence suggests that chiropractic neck manipulation is not a significant risk factor for arterial tear.
