Documented by whom?
Many things have been
published, and while rare, vertebro-basilar stroke is only
one of the risks associated with chiropractic.
Quote:
Published Reports
In 1992, researchers at the Stanford Stroke Center asked 486 California members of the American Academy of Neurology how many patients they had seen during the previous two years who had suffered a stroke within 24 hours of neck manipulation by a chiropractor. The survey was sponsored by the American Heart Association. A total of 177 neurologists reported treating 56 such patients, all of whom were between the ages of 21 and 60. One patient had died, and 48 were left with permanent neurologic deficits such as slurred speech, inability to arrange words properly, and vertigo (dizziness). The usual cause of the strokes was thought to be a tear between the inner and outer walls of the vertebral arteries, which caused the arterial walls to balloon and block the flow of blood to the brain. Three of the strokes involved tears of the carotid arteries [3]. In 1991, according to circulation figures from Dynamic Chiropractic, California had about 19% of the chiropractors practicing in the United States, which suggests that about 147 cases of stroke each year were seen by neurologists nationwide. Of course, additional cases could have been seen by other doctors who did not respond to the survey.
[More...]
Excerpt from http://www.quackwatch.org/01Quackery...irostroke.html
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In short, there are at least two sides (and often more) to any/every issue. Reports published by chiropractors tend to support chiropractic; reports by others tend to be more objective, or biased in other directions.
Even the Mayo Clinic, one of the most conservative sites online, which grants:
still cautions:
Quote:
Don't seek chiropractic adjustment if you have:
Severe osteoporosis
Numbness, tingling or loss of strength in an arm or leg
Cancer in your spine
An increased risk of stroke
An unstable spine
Ibid.
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IMO, both sides should be examined to get a balanced perspective.
risks of chiropractic includes articles by both chiropractic proponents and opponents. Each patient must ultimately decide for themselves if the risks justify the benefits.
Doc