This study showed that the maximum internal carotid artery strains measured during spinal manipulation did not exceed any of the strains experienced during normal everyday movements, and the authors concluded that spinal manipulation provided by trained clinicians is not a factor in internal carotid artery injuries. ~ Dr. Broussard
Internal Carotid Artery Strains During High-Speed, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulations of the Neck
JMPT
November–December, 2015 Volume 38, Issue 9, Pages 664–671
Walter Herzog, PhD
Abstract
Objective
The primary objective of this study was to quantify the strains applied to the internal carotid artery (ICA) during neck spinal manipulative treatments and range of motion (ROM)/diagnostic testing of the head and neck.
Methods
Strains of the ICA (n = 12) were measured in 6 fresh, unembalmed cadaveric specimens using sonomicrometry. Peak and average strains of the ICA obtained during cervical spinal manipulations given by experienced doctors of chiropractic were compared with the corresponding strains obtained during ROM and diagnostic testing of the head and neck.
Results
Peak and average strains of the ICA for cervical spinal manipulative treatments were significantly smaller (P < .001) than the corresponding strains obtained for the ROM and diagnostic testing. All strains during ROM and treatment testing were dramatically smaller than the initial failure strains of the ICA.
Conclusions
This study showed that maximal ICA strains imparted by cervical spinal manipulative treatments were well within the normal ROM. Chiropractic manipulation of the neck did not cause strains to the ICA in excess of those experienced during normal everyday movements. Therefore, cervical spinal manipulative therapy as performed by the trained clinicians in this study, did not appear to place undue strain on the ICA and thus does not seem to be a factor in ICA injuries.