Whiplash

Injuries to the neck caused by a rapid movement of the head backward, forward, or side to side, is referred to as "Whiplash." Whether the result of a car accident, sport, or work injury, whiplash or other neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic check-up. Too often people don't seek treatment until more serious complications develop.

In the past, a typical whiplash injury where no bones were broken, was hard to diagnose. Whiplash injuries do not always show up on x-ray. When no bones are broken and the head doesn't strike the windshield, typical symptoms are as follows: 92% complain of neck pain, which typically starts two hours up to two days after the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears or excessive movement of joints from ligament damage. The muscles tighten in an effort to support the head, limiting the excessive movement.

About 57% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headaches. The pain may be on one side or both, on again off again or constant, in one spot or more generalized. These headaches, like the neck pain, are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to keep the head stable and, like tension headaches, they are often felt behind the eyes.

Shoulder pain often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles, accounting for 49% of symptoms caused by whiplash.

Muscle tears are often described as burning pain, prickling or tingling. More severe disc damage may cause intense, dull pain with certain movements, with or without radiation into the arms, hands, and fingers, which are relieved by holding your hand over your head.

Whiplash is most commonly received from being struck from behind, whether from something as light as a fender bender or from something as powerful as a football tackle. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine can be over-stretched or torn.

In a rear end collision for example, whiplash can be divided into four basic phases:

Phase 1 - During Phase 1 the car is first pushed or accelerated forward within milliseconds. Your car is essentially pushed out from under you and your back loads the seat. High shearing forces develop within the neck and your spinal curves straighten and compress.

Phase 2 - Upward rise of your neck as your head snaps into full extension over the headrest and collapses it. This acts as a fulcrum stretching the muscles and ligaments of the neck.

Phase 3 - The head begins its forward motion as the torso descends into the seat. Your neck muscles, in a reflex action, contract to bring the head forward, in an attempt to prevent excessive injury.

Phase 4 - The violent rocking of the head forward, overstretching more muscles and ligaments in the back of the neck. Forces in the spine can cause discs between the vertebrae to bulge, tear, or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position or beyond normal range of motion (Vertebral Subluxation.) The chiropractic approach is to restore normal and full motion to the spinal joints as well as addressing the muscle injuries with stretching and exercises. Physical therapy is incorporated into treatment when necessary.

Chronic whiplash injuries are notoriously resistant to many forms of treatment. Chiropractic treatment is one of the only proven effective forms of care in the treatment of chronic whiplash related injuries. In a 1996 study by Woodward et. Al., published in the journal "Injury," chiropractic treatment was able to help relieve the pain for 93% of patients with chronic injuries.

Through the use of carefully controlled pressures directed at the spine and various physical modalities, combined with exercise, whiplash sufferers have improved. This is also known as chiropractic rehabilitation, and is the unique domain of the doctor of chiropractic.

Chiropractic
"Only Proven Effective Treatment"
for Chronic Whiplash