Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer to discuss a topic that we have all heard about, but I believe that it does not get treated with the seriousness that it deserves. I am talking about Whiplash. In almost every car accident there is some sort of Whiplash injury, and a lot of times it just gets written off as something that occurs in a car accident, and we do not necessarily need to address it. Today, I hope to dispel that myth.
The term “Whiplash” is used to refer to the hyperflexion injury of the neck, and the associated symptoms of this injury that occur during a motor vehicle accident.
This forward-flexion and/or backward-extension of the neck leads to a soft-tissue sprain/strain injury to the structures within the cervical and upper thoracic spinal regions. When the initial impact occurs and the head is forced in either extreme flexion or extreme extension, protective reflexes cause the muscles of the neck to forcefully contract which “whips” the head back in the opposite direction. The resulting injury more often than not leads to numerous symptoms, many of which are confusing and poorly understood.
Symptoms following a “Whiplash” accident include:
neck pain, tenderness, achiness and stiffness
cervical muscle spasms
tenderness and nodules in superficial cervical musculature
cervical reduced range of motion
post-traumatic headaches (including migraine and muscle-tension headaches)
shoulder and interscapular pain
hand and finger pain, numbness and tingling
blurred vision
difficulty swallowing/feeling of lump in throat
dizziness and balance problems
lightheadedness
post-traumatic depression and cognitive problems
Whiplash can damage just a few structures or many, depending on the severity of the accident and direction of the injurious forces, to name a few.
Some of the more common pain-sensitive structures that are damaged include:
outer layers of the intervertebral discs
intervertebral ligaments
capsule of the facet joints
anterior longitudinal ligament (runs down the front of the vertebral bodies-prevents excessive extension)
posterior longitudinal ligament (runs down the back of the vertebral bodies-prevents excessive flexion)
nerve root dura
extensor spinal musculature
flexor spinal musculature: the colli and scalene muscles
Damage to any of these structures results in tissue inflammation, tissue edema, microscopic hemorrhage, and the release of noxious chemicals such as histamine, prostaglandins, substance P, and kinins which further hypersensitize already painful and injured tissues.
The most important aspect of a successful treatment program involves active patient participation and patient compliance to the agreed upon program. When treatments focus solely on pain relief and not tissue rehabilitation or when patients fail to comply with the prescribed treatment plan, developing a chronic condition becomes very likely.
My approach to treating Whiplash has proven to be very successful when compared with other health care professionals because I focus on rehabilitating the injured tissues and restoring function. This is reflected in the high patient satisfaction scores that my office has received in “patient satisfaction surveys” performed on MVA patients.
Chiropractic Care is a safe, natural, noninvasive, and addresses the actual cause of the symptoms. Our treatments also include active patient participation, and in some cases, lifestyle changes. While we do focus on eliminating pain early on, we realize that in addition to pain tissue healing, restoration of normal function, and prevention of future recurrence and re-injury are equally important as well.
Our treatments are highlighted by the use of many gentle and highly effective spinal manipulative techniques. When performed properly, these techniques allow us to safely and effectively reduce pain, reduce muscles spasms, eliminate inflammation, restore normal joint motion and biomechanics, prevent or minimize degenerative processes, and minimize the likelihood of future recurrence.
We also incorporate many natural and safe adjunctive therapies into our treatment plan to further assist in the healing process. Some common adjunctive therapies include ice/heat, therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and electrical muscle stimulation, spinal traction, soft tissue therapies such as Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston Technique, as well as spinal exercises and stretches.
As with any other injury, there are a number of factors which influence the treatment length of Whiplash:
the severity of the injury
when treatment was initiated
patient compliance to the treatment plan
the nature of the accident
the size and speed of your vehicle and other vehicles involved
whether or not seat belts were worn
whether you were aware of the impending accident
the height of the head rest
the age of the individual
the size and strength of the cervical musculature
the presence of preexisting spinal conditions
The easiest and most effective way of eliminating pain and preventing residual and chronic problems is to start care immediately following the accident. As you allow time to slip by without seeking appropriate treatment, your injuries become more permanent and far more difficult to manage.
Numerous studies show that many Whiplash victims have a relatively poor outcome without immediate and appropriate treatment. One such study found that 75% of patients with Whiplash still suffer from symptoms 6 months after the accident. Experts agree that individuals with any degree of neck complaints following a motor vehicle accident dramatically improve their prognosis if they seek immediate evaluation and appropriate treatment within hours of the accident.
