Connecticut advocacy groups are trying to force chiropractors warn patients of strokes with every chirorpractic neck adjustment. Strokes after a chiropractic adjustment is probably one of the most common concerns that I find with patients who have never had chiropractic treatment. It is almost like the "dirty" little secret in chiropractic. Chiropractic stroke aka "vertebral artery dissection" (VAD) and "vertebrobasilar arterial ischemia" (VBI) can occur in the beauty salons with "Beauty parlor stroke syndrome," painters, swimming and bow hunting. For a good source of information about chiropractic strokes, you can visit chiro.org's link here or NCMIC's brochure here. It is important to keep in mind some common symptoms associated with strokes in general:
Catching these signs early give one the best chance for surviving a stroke. A chiropractor, medical doctor or any other health profession may not always catch these signs because neck pain from a potential blood clot is rare. Knowing these signs is important and continue to seek medical help with any of these symptoms. Avoid any activity with too much or prolonged extension and/or rotation of the neck which is why activities such as washing the hair in a beauty parlor, painting and swimming also have an association with stroke. If you have any questions, please ask your medical doctor or go to the emergency room because time is important when these symptoms occur.
While there is very little understanding of VAD/VBI, chiropractors have received the most negative public perception with occurrence statistics ranging from 1 in 5 million, 1 in 3 million and even 1 in less than a million. The best evidence that I have that found disputing the increased risk of stroke with chiropractic adjustment is from a Spine journal from 2008 which studies the association with stroke with chiropractic adjustments and visits to a primary care physician (PCP) for neck pain. The study found that the same statistical relationship was found with patients who visited a PCP for neck pain and chiropractic visits for neck pain. The problem is not that chiropractic neck adjustments cause strokes but that the patients with neck pain were not identified as a potential stroke patient by chiropractors and even medical doctors for this rare condition. Because patients with neck pain naturally go to see a chiropractor, chiropractors have been wrongly labeled with causing strokes. Because of this negative publicity associated with chiropractic neck adjustments, I have modified my neck adjustments and most patients seem to prefer a gentle neck adjustment without the "crack" or cavitation. I am also an advocate for not making joints hypermobile or too loose.
ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Graston Technique Certified
Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational purposes only and an opinion for specific individualized circumstances. It is not a prescription for therapy or diagnosis for you. All opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the particular author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Anthony Tsai, Graston Technique®, its employees, providers or affiliates. Any opinions of the author on the site are or have been rendered based on scientific facts and/or anecdotal evidence, under certain conditions, and subject to certain assumptions, and may not and should not be used or relied upon for any other purpose, including but not limited to for use in or in connection with any legal proceeding. If there is any issue with the content or images on this blog, contact us an we will remove it immediately. Please refer to http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/ for more information.
References:
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/good_day_ny/100105-chiropractic-stroke-risk,-mammograms http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=18204390
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19251066?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/stroke.shtml
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Risk_of_Vertebrobasilar_Stroke.shtml
https://www.ncmic.com/microsites/CVA/CVA_ExecSummary.pdf
5 D’s And 3 N’s:
SIGNS OF STROKE
Diplopia -- Double vision or other vision problems
Dizziness -- Vertigo, light-headedness
Drop attacks -- Sudden numbness/weakness of face/arm/leg
Dysarthria -- Speech disorders
Dysphagia -- Difficulty swallowing
Ataxia of gait -- Difficulty walking
Nausea -- Vomiting or queasiness
Numbness -- Loss of sensation on one side
Nystagmus -- Involuntary rapid eye movements
SIGNS OF STROKE
Diplopia -- Double vision or other vision problems
Dizziness -- Vertigo, light-headedness
Drop attacks -- Sudden numbness/weakness of face/arm/leg
Dysarthria -- Speech disorders
Dysphagia -- Difficulty swallowing
Ataxia of gait -- Difficulty walking
Nausea -- Vomiting or queasiness
Numbness -- Loss of sensation on one side
Nystagmus -- Involuntary rapid eye movements
Catching these signs early give one the best chance for surviving a stroke. A chiropractor, medical doctor or any other health profession may not always catch these signs because neck pain from a potential blood clot is rare. Knowing these signs is important and continue to seek medical help with any of these symptoms. Avoid any activity with too much or prolonged extension and/or rotation of the neck which is why activities such as washing the hair in a beauty parlor, painting and swimming also have an association with stroke. If you have any questions, please ask your medical doctor or go to the emergency room because time is important when these symptoms occur.
While there is very little understanding of VAD/VBI, chiropractors have received the most negative public perception with occurrence statistics ranging from 1 in 5 million, 1 in 3 million and even 1 in less than a million. The best evidence that I have that found disputing the increased risk of stroke with chiropractic adjustment is from a Spine journal from 2008 which studies the association with stroke with chiropractic adjustments and visits to a primary care physician (PCP) for neck pain. The study found that the same statistical relationship was found with patients who visited a PCP for neck pain and chiropractic visits for neck pain. The problem is not that chiropractic neck adjustments cause strokes but that the patients with neck pain were not identified as a potential stroke patient by chiropractors and even medical doctors for this rare condition. Because patients with neck pain naturally go to see a chiropractor, chiropractors have been wrongly labeled with causing strokes. Because of this negative publicity associated with chiropractic neck adjustments, I have modified my neck adjustments and most patients seem to prefer a gentle neck adjustment without the "crack" or cavitation. I am also an advocate for not making joints hypermobile or too loose.
ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Graston Technique Certified
Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational purposes only and an opinion for specific individualized circumstances. It is not a prescription for therapy or diagnosis for you. All opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the particular author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Anthony Tsai, Graston Technique®, its employees, providers or affiliates. Any opinions of the author on the site are or have been rendered based on scientific facts and/or anecdotal evidence, under certain conditions, and subject to certain assumptions, and may not and should not be used or relied upon for any other purpose, including but not limited to for use in or in connection with any legal proceeding. If there is any issue with the content or images on this blog, contact us an we will remove it immediately. Please refer to http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/ for more information.
References:
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/good_day_ny/100105-chiropractic-stroke-risk,-mammograms http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=18204390
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19251066?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/stroke.shtml
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ABSTRACTS/Risk_of_Vertebrobasilar_Stroke.shtml
https://www.ncmic.com/microsites/CVA/CVA_ExecSummary.pdf
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