The latest study to investigate whether a unique association between chiropractic manipulation and risk of cervical artery dissection / stroke exists has yielded similar encouraging findings, with the authors noting "no excess risk of carotid artery stroke after chiropractic care" and no significant risk difference between patients receiving care from a DC or a primary care medical provider.
Moreover, as has been suggested previously, the authors state that the incidence of stroke in these instances is "likely due to patients with early dissection-related symptoms seeking care prior to developing their strokes."
The study by J. David Cassidy, DC, PhD, DrMedSc, Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, and colleagues1 identified all carotid artery stroke cases admitted to hospitals in Ontario, Canada over a nine-year period, with exposure to chiropractic vs. PCP services determined by review of billing records. Overall, 15,523 cases were compared to 62,092 control periods using exposure windows of 1, 3, 7, and 14 days prior to stroke onset.
Readers will recall that Drs. Cassidy and Haldeman both served on the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders, whose research included the finding, as Dr. Haldeman stated in a 2008 DC article,2 that "the risk of vertebrobasilar (VBA) stroke associated with a visit for a chiropractor's office appears to be no different from the risk of stroke following a visit to an MD's office. It is likely that patients in the early stages of VBA stroke are presenting to both chiropractors and family doctors because of neck pain and headache due to pre-existing vertebral artery dissection, which is a risk factor for VBA stroke."
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
