Neck manipulation may be associated with stroke

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Scientific Statement

August 07, 2014 Categories: Stroke News

Statement Highlights

Manipulating the neck has been associated with cervical dissection, a type of arterial tear that can lead to stroke.
Although a direct cause-and-effect link has not been established between neck manipulation and the risk of stroke, healthcare providers should inform patients of the association before they undergo neck manipulation.

Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET Thurs., Aug. 7, 2014

DALLAS, Aug. 7, 2014 — Treatments involving neck manipulation may be associated with stroke, though it cannot be said with certainty that neck manipulation causes strokes, according to a new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s journalStroke.

Cervical artery dissection (CD) is a small tear in the layers of artery walls in the neck. It can result in ischemic stroke if a blood clot forms after a trivial or major trauma in the neck and later causes blockage of a blood vessel in the brain. Cervical artery dissection is an important cause of stroke in young and middle-aged adults.

“Most dissections involve some trauma, stretch or mechanical stress,” said José Biller, M.D., lead statement author and professor and chair of neurology at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. “Sudden movements that can hyperextend or rotate the neck — such as whiplash, certain sports movements, or even violent coughing or vomiting — can result in CD, even if they are deemed inconsequential by the patient.”

Although techniques for cervical manipulative therapy vary, some maneuvers used as therapy by health practitioners also extend and rotate the neck and sometimes involve a forceful thrust.

There are four arteries that supply blood to the brain: the two carotid arteries on each side of the neck, and the two vertebral arteries on the back of the neck. The influence of neck manipulation seems more important in vertebral artery dissection than in internal carotid artery dissection.

“Although a cause-and-effect relationship between these therapies and CD has not been established and the risk is probably low, CD can result in serious neurological injury,” Biller said. “Patients should be informed of this association before undergoing neck manipulation.”

The association between cervical artery dissection and cervical manipulative therapies was identified in case control studies, which aren’t designed to prove cause and effect. An association means that there appears to be a relationship between two things, i.e., manipulative therapy of the neck and a greater incidence of cervical dissection/stroke. However, it’s not clear whether other factors could account for the apparent relationship.

The relationship between neck manipulation and cervical artery dissection is difficult to evaluate because patients who already are beginning to have a cervical artery dissection may seek treatment to relieve neck pain, a common symptom of cervical artery dissection that can precede symptoms of stroke by several days.

You should seek emergency medical evaluation if you develop neurological symptoms after neck manipulation or trauma, such as:

Pain in the back of your neck or in your head;
Dizziness/vertigo;
Double vision;
Unsteadiness when walking;
Slurred speech;
Nausea and vomiting;
Jerky eye movements.

“Tell the physician if you have recently had a neck trauma or neck manipulation,” Biller said. “Some symptoms, such as dizziness or vertigo, are very common and can be due to minor conditions rather than stroke, but giving the information about recent neck manipulation can raise a red flag that you may have a CD rather than a less serious problem, particularly in the presence of neck pain.”

Co-authors are Ralph L. Sacco, M.S., M.D., co-chair; Felipe C. Albuquerque, M.D.; Bart M. Demaerschalk, M.D., M.Sc.; Pierre Fayad, M.D.; Preston H. Long, D.C., Ph.D.; Lori D. Noorollah, M.D.; Peter D. Panagos, M.D.; Wouter I. Schievink, M.D.; Neil E. Schwartz, M.D. Ph.D.; Ashfaq Shuaib, M.D.; David E. Thaler, M.D., Ph.D.; and David L. Tirschwell, M.D., M.Sc., on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council.

The scientific statement is endorsed by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Additional Resources:

An audio interview with lead author, Dr. Jose Biller, a Skype video interview with Ralph Sacco. M.D. the statement co-author, author photos and illustrations related to cervical dissection are available on the right column of the release linkhttp://newsroom.heart.org/news/neck-manipulation-may-be-associated-with-stroke?preview=19bd0e55741cd13c0a7c5e8b3036f614
Frequently Asked Questions: Cervical Artery Dissection and Cervical Dissection
Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews.
For stroke science, follow the Stroke journal at @StrokeAHA_ASA

###

. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the association’s science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

For Media Inquiries: (214) 706-1173

Darcy Spitz : (212) 878-5940

; Darcy.Spitz@heart.org

Julie Del Barto (broadcast): (214) 706-1330

; julie.delbarto@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: (800)-AHA-USA1

(242-8721)

heart.org and strokeassociation.org

Life is why we fund scientific breakthroughs that save and improve lives.