Chiropractic Care For A Whiplash Injury

Today, you’ll learn about whiplash injuries and how chiropractic care can help. We’ll talk about the symptoms, treatment options, and why it’s so important to get quick and proper care.

What Is A Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when there is a sudden movement of the neck backward and forwards. A whiplash injury typically happens in a car accident or while playing a sport. The injury can often result in soft tissue injuries (tearing of tendon, ligament, muscle fibers) or disc herniations. Extreme cases involve fractured bones. 

Whiplash Injury Grades

There are different levels of a whiplash injury, categorized into grades.

Grade 0 - no symptoms at all.

Grade 1 - neck pain, stiffness, or tenderness only. No physical symptoms.

Grade 2 - neck pain AND musculoskeletal sign(s). Musculoskeletal signs can include reduced range of motion and point tenderness.

Grade 3 - neck pain AND neurological signs (i.e., Numbness or tingling in arms or legs, weakness, or loss of balance)

Grade 4 - neck pain AND fracture or dislocation.

Other symptoms can include nausea, migraines, and loss of energy. Additionally, if a patient was involved in a significant car accident, work-related accident, or sports injury, then the chances of suffering a concussion increase, which opens up a whole other can of worms.

It’s also important to point out that low-impact collisions can also result in whiplash injuries because the neck is a sensitive region compared to other parts of the body. Take for example the smaller suboccipital muscles which are responsible for 50% of the movement in the neck. These muscle, when stressed, can produce neck pain, headaches, migraines, or dizziness. Or the many nerves that run through a small region such as the neck can have an effect on our balance, vision, smell, or taste when compromised.

Treatment For A Whiplash Injury

The treatment options for a whiplash injury come in the form of:

1. Medical doctors, including family practitioners, orthopedic specialists, neurologists, surgeons, or pain specialists, will often prescribe pain medications and muscle relaxants. This form of treatment is ideal in the acute stages of whiplash to help the patient reduce their symptoms.

2. Chiropractors can adjust the injured area using their hands or other instruments and adjunctive therapies (EMS, ultrasound, cervical traction device, etc.) when needed. This treatment is ideal provided the patient is cleared to receive light chiropractic adjustments (usually 72 hours after the initial incident) in order to re-align the affected joint. Also, therapies aide in reducing muscle tension, or increase blood flow to speed up the healing process.

3. Physical Therapists can improve the patient's movement or offer rehab exercises to strengthen injured muscles, tendon, or ligaments.

4. Others - Occupational Therapists, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists.

Although chiropractic has become more popular during the past 15-20 years, we still have a long way to go. A recent study published by Palmer College indicates

"About half of adults in the U.S. have had some experience with a chiropractor as a patient."

This also means the other half of the population has not.

So, why is all this such a big deal? Because long-term effects come at a high physical and financial cost for the patient. If left untreated, the physical damage accumulates to increased disc degeneration or increased headaches, neck pain, back pain, and overall poor quality of life. The possibility of expensive medications, injections, surgeries, and ongoing doctors' office visits increases. Failure to treat Whiplash can result in chronic Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) such as ongoing pain, reduced mobility, fatigue/headaches.

Prevention

Effective ways to prevent Whiplash include:
Proper headreast adjustment - make sure the headrest is aligned properly to the back of your head

Seat belt use - always wear your seatbelt to avoid severe injuries.

Drive safely - maintain safe distances, follow traffic signs, avoid distractions. Most newer cars come with Bluetooth, take advantage of these technologies and avoid accidents.

Exercise regularly - practice stretching and strengthening exercises for faster recovery.

I hope this has provided you with an increased awareness of whiplash injuries and encouraged you to seek out treatment when needed. If you have recently suffered a whiplash injury, or know someone that has, please reach to my office to get started on your treatment. I promise you will live a much happier and healthier life with a proactive mentality.