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A common chiropractic treatment for neck pain, which involves applying thrusts to the neck area of the spine, should be abandoned, say experts. Writing in the British Medical Journal, Neil O'Connell and colleagues say that cervical spine manipulation carries a low risk of stroke, resulting from damage to the major neck arteries. They say the technique is "unnecessary and inadvisable". But other experts believe it is a valuable addition to patient care. Spinal manipulation can be used to treat neck and back pain or other musculoskeletal conditions. It is a technique used by physiotherapists, osteopaths and most commonly by chiropractors. Cervical spine manipulation focuses on the neck and involves a range of high-speed manual manoeuvres that stretch, mobilise or manipulate the upper spine in order to relieve pain.