WHIPLASH
 |
DEFINITION:
Hyperflexion or hyperextension of the neck due to the
body's reaction to a deceleration or acceleration force. |
 Car accidents are a common cause of whiplash injuries,
due in part to the fact that the muscles do not have
enough time to brace.
Simple cases of whiplash are the result of
sprained ligaments in the neck. The muscles naturally
spasm as a protective mechanism. Pain symptoms
may be a stiff neck and may go down one or both arms.
Chiropractic adjustment, physical therapy, pain
medication and a soft neck collar can provide
neck pain relief for
the simple case of whiplash injury. Persistent pain that lasts
for 1.5 months or more may indicate a more severe case
of whiplash. This can signify that the
whiplash more extensively damaged and/or trapped nerves.
Whiplash can also lead to ruptured discs in the neck,
like a herniated disc in the back (also called a slipped
disk).
Typical symptoms of a whiplash injury may
include radiating pain into the shoulder, elbow, wrist
or hand, low back pain, headaches and more.
An article published in the Journal of Orthopedic
Medicine in 1999 pointed out the superiority of
chiropractic care for patients suffering from long term
whiplash.
The authors of the article noted that a previous
study had shown that 26 of 28 patients, or 93 percent,
of patients with chronic whiplash benefited from
chiropractic care.
In the authors' own study, they interviewed 100
consecutive chiropractic referrals of patients with
chronic whiplash. Their results also showed that of the
93 patients who remained in the study, 69 of them, or 74
percent, found improvement.
The researchers concluded their opening comments with
the statement, “The results from this study provide
further evidence that chiropractic is an effective
treatment for chronic whiplash symptoms.” |
