THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507290004
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
For the third time in less than 18 months, your newspaper has published an article misrepresenting the alleged dangers of certain chiropractic procedures. In ``Cervical manipulation poses risk'' (Health & Fitness, July 17), medical adviser M. R. Hiller writes how cervical manipulation may lead to stroke. Hiller overstates the supposed risk. Vertebral-artery injury from spinal manipulation is about .0002 percent - that is two cases per million. Other studies have shown the risk rate is even lower.
At the National College of Chiropractic Clinics in Chicago there were approximately 5 million cervical adjustments from 1965 to 1980 without a single case of vertebral artery syndrome or stroke. In fact, most of the verified incidence of vertebral-artery syndrome were performed by nonchiropractic doctors, i.e., osteopaths, physical therapists, orthopedists, even by lay people.
When compared to medical procedures, chiropractic care is extremely safe. The risk rate of paralysis from neurosurgery for neck pain is about 1.5 percent or 15,000 per million. The risk rate from chymopapin injections for herniated disks is approximately 1,400 deaths per million. Consider: 1,600 children die each year from adverse reactions to aspirin.
The danger is not with spinal manipulation/adjustments of the neck (you have a greater chance of dying from a bee sting). The danger is that irresponsible journalism will frighten people away from seeking clinically proven, safe and effective chiropractic care to more dangerous, more expensive and less effective medical procedures.
BRAD ROBINSON, D.C.
Past president
Hampton Roads Chiropractic Association
Norfolk, July 20, 1995 by CNB