Dizziness testing of the cervical spine: Can complications of manipulations be prevented?

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Abstract
A questionnaire on the use of pre-manipulative dizziness tests prior to cervical manipulation was submitted to 153 physiotherapists practising manipulative therapy in South Africa. Ninety (58.8%) of the physiotherapists used cervical manipulation as a therapeutic technique. Of these, 76 (84.4%) routinely used some pre-manipulative dizziness tests. However, the testing procedures used were neither consistent nor thorough. A total of 48 post-manipulative complications involving 25 cases were reported out of a total of 75,500 procedures applied. The results of this study show that complications resulting from cervical manipulation performed by physiotherapists in South Africa were minor. Pre-manipulative tests probably need to be performed in all patients in order to determine those at high risk.