Syringomyelia is a disorder in which a cyst forms within the spinal cord, and Arnold Chiari malformations are structural defects that result in the cerebellum and brain stem being
pushed downward into the spinal column. Past research has reported that these conditions may be considered contraindications for spinal manipulation. However, a recent case study found skilled spinal manipulation to be both safe and effective in the treatment of
an 18-year-old women with both of the above mentioned conditions who suffered from neck and left arm pain after a motor vehicle accident. After four treatments in two weeks, she was asymptomatic, which continued at a one-month follow-up. The case illustrates
the benefits of spinal manipulation for neck pain even in the presence of sryringomyleia and an Arnold Chiari malformation.  British Medical Journal, November 2014