Chiropractic neck adjustments do not appear to increase the risk of a rare but serious artery tear, according to a large observational study. The research was a multidisciplinary effort that included investigators from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and other institutions.
The study focused on a rare injury involving a tear in an artery in the neck. After analyzing data from a large group of patients, the researchers found no added risk associated with chiropractic neck care.
As an observational study, the findings cannot prove cause and effect, but they offer reassurance about the safety of this common treatment. The results align with the study's conclusion that chiropractic neck care does not appear to raise the risk of the rare artery injury.