Whiplash

Whiplash

When most people think of whiplash, they think of neck pain following a rear-end collision, but the truth is, it can happen anywhere in the spine and from almost any angle or impact. The traditional whiplash occurs during a collision when a person’s spine is “jerked” too far backward and too far forwards, putting excessive stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints which protect and hold a person’s spine together.

Car accident chiropractor

What happens after an accident?

What happens next varies from person to person and depends on the force of impact and underlying conditions. The pain is often instantaneous but can also take several days to fully set in. Common symptoms include muscle and joint pain, muscle spasm, dizziness, headache, and limited mobility. Sometimes the pain and symptoms retreat on their own, however often they do not, making normal day-to-day activities unbearable for people to live with. In either case, the underlying causes of the person’s pain should be addressed by a qualified health care provider, to reduce long-term damage and reoccurring pain.

Whiplash Facts:

  • 3 million whiplash injuries occur every year in the US.
  • Whiplash symptoms may take up to 72 hours to appear.
  • 60% of whiplash injuries happened in car accidents with low speeds of 6-12 mph, though most cars can withstand a crash of 8-12 mph without any damage.
  • Drowsiness
  • Contact sports such as boxing and football can also result in whiplash injuries.
  • The disc can be torn and injured as a result of whiplash.
  • A clear X-Ray does not necessarily mean there is no injury.
  • Pre-existing arthritis can complicate a whiplash injury.
  • If both sides are insured and you are not “at fault,” your initial evaluation and necessary treatment are often covered without an out-of-pocket expense by the other side’s insurance.

QAPE It

Question:

Neck pain is the second most common condition seen in a chiropractic office. Common causes include things such as posture, an injury, and arthritis. The doctors will discuss the onset, symptoms, and pain patterns to determine what assessments can and should be done.

Plan:

Combination of Dry needling, Active Release through jaw, suboccipitals, upper trapezius muscles, manual stretching and mobilization of jaw, Chiropractic adjustment through neck and upper back. Trial of care 2x/week for 2 weeks. Additional self management strategies such as a night guard or stretching may be recommended depending on the case. 

Assess:

Postural assessments, palpation, possibly X-rays, and tests of motion and mobility will be done to diagnose where the neck pain is coming from and why.

Execute:

During treatment some progress/change should be noted at each visit. If no progress is being made after 2-3 visits a re-evaluation may be necessary leading to a change in plan. If the treatment is working, visits may extend past 2 weeks to achieve maximum medical improvement.

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