Objective To explore the effect of cervical rotatory manipulation on tensile mechanical properties of carotid artery with atherosclerotic plaque. Methods Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits were selected and randomly divided into experimental group, model control group and blank control group. Carotid atherosclerosis model were made in the experimental group and model control group. The experimental group received the intervention of cervical rotatory manipulation, but the model control group did not. The blank control group did not receive any intervention. After 3 groups received different interventions, the differences in tensile mechanical properties of rabbit carotid artery in three groups were observed. Results The ultimate strain, ultimate load and physiological elastic modulus of rabbit carotid arteries in 3 groups were statistically significant (P<0.05); The ultimate strain in the experimental group was 24.87% and 52.09% smaller than that in the model control group and blank control group, respectively; The ultimate load in the experimental group was 2.21 and 3.47 times of the model control group and blank control group, respectively; The physiological elastic modulus in the experimental group was 1.60 and 1.89 times of the model control group and blank control group, respectively. Conclusions Compared with normal carotid artery, the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque will reduce tensile mechanical properties of the carotid artery, and cervical rotatory manipulation will further reduce tensile mechanical properties of the carotid artery with carotid atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, for patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque, it is better to avoid cervical manipulation.