A recent report published in the British Medical Journal has revealed that the technique of putting thrusts on the neck for treating neck pain is useless and may even be harmful.

While it is always suggested by osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors that one should do spinal manipulation in case of a neck or back pain. Also, people with musculoskeletal conditions are also told to do cervical spine manipulation.

A team of researchers at the Centre for Research and Rehabilitation at Brunel University has now been claiming that the same is hazardous to health.

Spine manipulation includes manual stretching of the neck and manipulating the upper spine so as to get relief from the severe pain, the researchers have told in the mean time.

The team continues to maintain that such manipulation and stretching can sometimes lead to a low risk of stroke, which is caused as a result of minor damages to the major neck arteries. Also, one may suffer from serious neurovascular complications due to the same.

Thus, Neil O'Connell and colleagues concluded, "The potential for catastrophic events and the clear absence of unique benefit lead to the inevitable conclusion that manipulation of the cervical spine should be abandoned as part of conservative care for neck pain".