There is no way to prevent the ever-increasing incidence of whiplash injury. Automobile collisions generally result in either acute flexion or severe hyperextension of the passenger’s neck, depending on the direction of the impact.
When a car of approximately 3,500 lbs. traveling at 10 mph strikes the rear of another car, it may transmit a force of 25 tons to the other car. Meanwhile, the person’s body (in the car that is hit) continues to move forward, while the head, being hinged at the neck, snaps backwards.
The end result of this abrasive motion, with the neck now in acute hyperextension, is a momentary posterior subluxation (partial dislocation) of the various joints, causing the nerve root to be caught in between pinchers of the superior and inferior facets.
The origin of the pain lies in the cervical (neck) roots, the spinal accessory, and the cervical autonomic nerves. Headaches are common symptoms which in many cases cause great pain behind the eye.
However the headaches we feel are really attacks of hemicrania with pain radiating behind the corresponding eye. This is the mechanism whereby many chronic and persistent headaches have their true origin in the injury, noting that many headaches are not really headaches at all, but rather, literal pains in the neck.
Occasionally, x-rays are often able to help reveal injuries to the bones or joints following whiplash injury, but this is not always the case. Even more often, x-ray findings after whiplash injury display no injury to the bone. As a result, many patients are accused of having functional disorders instead, and actually referred to see psychiatrists!
If you feel you are suffering from Whiplash Click here to schedule a complimentary appointment with a StayBetter chiropractor right in your neighborhood!
However, whiplash is a real physical injury, and patients should see professionals who are expertly trained in both physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Chiropractors are specialists in treating non-surgical spine injuries and thus treating whiplash injuries from car accidents is something we excel in. If you have just recently suffered from a car accident, a visit to your local chiropractor is due.
Once there, he or she will thoroughly examine your patient history and conduct precise examinations consisting of :
Neurological examinations to test for injuries in the cranial, sensory, motor, and reflex extremities, as well as for injuries to the brain
Maneuvers to stress certain tissues to see if they are injured
Motion palpation which is designed to test the pain reactions and mobility of the joints of the spine
Examination of areas of congestion, referred to as “myofascial trigger-points,” which are common sources of pain following whiplash injury
Following this thorough and comprehensive evaluation, a precise diagnosis and treatment plan will be devised to meet your needs. Typically, a treatment includes, but is not limited to, adjustments to help restore proper function and mobilization, massage, traction, and exercise and nutrition plans to help you return to a healthy, normal lifestyle; one free of pain.
If you feel you are suffering from Whiplash Click here to schedule a complimentary appointment with a StayBetter chiropractor right in your neighborhood!
“Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash.” Spine-Health. May 2007.