Cervical manipulations (chiropractic/osteopathy) are ineffective and present serious risks, such as arterial dissection; they should therefore be avoided.

noli's read

The question of cervical manipulation is the subject of a nuanced scientific debate. Regarding efficacy, systematic reviews (e.g., Cochrane) indicate that these manipulations can provide modest and temporary relief for certain common cervical pain, although the evidence is not superior to other conservative approaches. The risk of vertebral artery dissection is a subject documented in medical literature in the form of case reports and observational studies; however, direct causality remains difficult to establish because the patient often consults for cervical pain that is sometimes the precursor of the dissection itself. Professional organizations acknowledge that the risk of a serious adverse event is extremely low, albeit real. The creator highlights a significant risk, but the phrasing "no evidence of efficacy" omits the potential benefits observed for short-term pain management. This is therefore a precautionary position that emphasizes rare risks to the detriment of measured clinical benefits.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.