Cervical manipulation

Cervical manipulation is a procedure involving the upper 7 vertebral bodies of the spinal column.

The spinal column is divided into five areas:


 * Cervical
 * 1 to 7 or C1 to C7


 * Thoracic
 * 8 to 20 or T1 - T12


 * Lumbar
 * 21 to 26 or L1 to L5


 * Sacrum
 * 27 to 32 or S1 to S5


 * Coccyx
 * 33 to 37 or Co1 to Co4

Manipluation of the spine is a common alternative treatment used in place of more radical treatments such as surgery. Cervical manipulation in particular can relieve symptoms such as parasthesia, headaches and poor cirulation for patients with vertebral subluxation.

Methods
Many types of practitioners use various techniques to adjust the position of the cervical bones. They include Bonesetters, Chiropractors and Osteopaths. The various techniques range from high velocity low amplitude thrusts to gentle positional release techniques such as Brett's Procedure.

Risks
There are associated risks that come with cervical manipulation. These include:


 * Vertebral disc herniation
 * Vertebral artery dissection
 * Stroke