watch your back

Why You Have to Be SUPER Careful at the Chiropractor's Office

A risk to keep in mind

Ever get that crick in your neck and feel like the only person who can help is your chiropractor? (Ugh, been there.) Chiros can definitely make you feel better, but be warned: Neck adjustments (AKA cervical manipulative therapy; AKA the crazy part of your appointment where your chiropractor twists your head and your neck makes that insane cracking sound) may actually raise your risk for stroke, according to a new scientific statement released by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

That's because, while it's rare, neck adjustments can actually cause tears in the arteries along your spine, and those tears can bring on stroke. Now, most of the evidence about this stuff is based on case studies, so we can't say for sure that cervical manipulation causes stroke, but it's still worth being vigilant.

If you'd like to read more about this issue, check out this in-depth feature we ran in SELF.



Image Credit: Belchonok