New Study Finds No Added Risk of Rare Artery Tear Following Chiropractic Neck Care

A study, published on September 14, 2026 in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, examined the association between chiropractor-administered spinal manipulation and cervical artery dissection, a relatively rare condition involving a tear in a neck artery that can lead to stroke.

Analyzing data from more than 862,000 adults who sought care for a new episode of neck pain or headache, the study found no evidence of an increased risk of cervical artery dissection among patients receiving chiropractor-administered cervical spinal manipulation compared with those prescribed ibuprofen. Access the full study here.