Arterial pathology and cervicocranial pain – differential diagnosis for manual therapists and medical practitioners

Abstract

This article reviews vascular causes of head and neck pain with regard to the current available evidence. It considers the overall assessment of the patient's suitability to undergo any form of manual therapy intervention ranging from simple exercise-based prescription, through to mobilisation and/or manipulative therapies. A brief review of regional anatomy combined with potential complications of system failure is presented. This is linked to an overview of the key signs for the alert practitioner to look for, together with some consideration of underlying risk factors (with regard to vascular pathology).

Keywords:

• ARTERIAL DYSFUNCTION
• INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
• VERTEBRAL ARTERY
• VERTEBROBASILAR INSUFFICIENCY
• HEADACHE
• NECK PAIN