Studies done for the chiropractic profession have indicated a possible association of neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection. The actual incidence of stroke associated with chiropractic, osteopathic or medical neck manipulation is unknown, the occurrence appears to be rare — 1 in 5.85 million manipulations, based on the clinical reports and scientific studies to date (Haldeman S, et al. Arterial dissection following cervical manipulation: a chiropractic experience. Can Med Assoc J2001;165(7):905-06.) According to a more recent February 2008 report in the journal Spine, a new study finds there is no evidence of excess risk of stroke following chiropractic spinal manipulation. In the study, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.
Another study done by the RAND think tank found that for cervical manipulation the estimated risk for serious complications is 6.39 per ten million manipulations. (Coulter 1998).
Note these studies are dealing with therapeutic neck manipulation, not the alphabiotic method. The Alphabioticists hand placements are on the head, not on the neck. *The Alphabiotic method does not involve shearing and torsional forces – i.e. great rotation coupled with lateral flexion (side bending) of the neck. In alphabiotics the head remains in anatomical (relatively neutral) position with less than 5-10 degrees of rotation. There is no coupled motion of great rotation with great lateral flexion (side bending). The communication movement is along the longitudinal axis of the body. Although no studies have been conducted for the alphabiotic method, the differences between the alphabiotic method and therapeutic neck manipulation are vast and would clearly drop the aforementioned incidence of risk significantly; meaning the alphabiotic method is significantly safer than an already safe (chiropractic/osteopathic/medical) procedure. The alphabiotic method has little or nothing in common with these protocols – yet they are useful in providing members with information, perspective and reference. The risk of a negative outcome from the alphabiotic method appears to be statistically insignificant, i.e. no greater than sheer coincidence or chance.
- It is for this reason as well, that individuals with herniated discs receive benefit from the safe decompression that accompanies the process as no shearing forces traditionally found with chiropractic/osteopathic/medical procedures are utilized.
