Pain, dizziness, and central nervous system blood flow in cervical extension: vascular correlations to beauty parlor stroke syndrome and salon sink radiculopathy.

Abstract

Professional shampoos have previously been implicated in beauty parlor stroke syndrome and salon sink radiculopathy. The purpose of this study was to record pain, dizziness, and cervical blood flow while subjects were specifically placed into the salon sink position and to determine whether an additional cervical support would alter these symptoms and measurements. In 25 volunteers who reported previous dizziness from salon shampoos, we recorded subjective levels of pain and dizziness and objective measurements of blood flow within the vertebral and carotid arteries at baseline and then during cervical extension into a salon sink, with and without additional cervical support. When the additional cervical support was not used, there was significantly greater dizziness, neck pain, and carotid blood flow. No statistically significant differences were seen in the vertebral artery blood flow when comparing the three positions. Pain and dizziness were commonly reproduced in this previously symptomatic population but significantly less frequently when a supplemental cervical support was used. Individuals with a history of such symptoms should probably exercise caution when deciding whether to receive a salon sink shampoo.