whiplash

When the soft tissues of the neck become injured and produce pain and dysfunction, the condition is referred to as whiplash. This term is not a medical term but since its first usage in 1928, most people have used the term whiplash to describe cervical soft tissue injuries. Someone can sustain whiplash during a car accident, during a fall, an assault or participating in sports. The most common cause of whiplash is being involved in a motor vehicle accident as the speed of the cars during a collision causes sudden movement to the otherwise stationary bodies within the cars. The soft tissues of the cervical spine become injured when an abnormal or sudden movement to the neck causes the muscles to be strained beyond their normal range of motion. Because whiplash involves abnormal movement in the neck and often times with sudden forceful movement, whiplash is also referred to as acceleration flexion-extension injury, a cervical sprain or strain or a soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. Whatever the name, the result is the same, pain and tenderness in the neck, inflammation, muscle spasms, headache, difficulty in moving the head and possibly radiating pain into the shoulders and upper extremities.

Neck Pain

Even though whiplash is a sprain or strain of the neck muscles, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately following the onset of neck pain. While for most people, the pain is a result of acutely sore muscles that have been strained beyond their normal range of motion, some neck pain may be a sign of something more serious. If the symptoms of neck pain are accompanied by dizziness or a feeling of numbness, tingling and weakness into the arms or legs, a trip to the emergency room is recommended. If serious conditions are ruled out during an emergency visit, a patient will be sent home with instructions to ice the cervical muscles for 20 minutes per each hour during the initial 24 hours, separating the ice from the skin with a thin towel. OTC medications will also be recommended such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation in the neck. Follow-up treatments such as chiropractic care or massage therapy may also be helpful in speeding the recovery time and helping to relax the strained muscles of the neck. Chiropractic modalities such as ultrasound, electric stimulation, mild traction and physical therapy exercises will be offered for pain relief. In general, people who have sustained a whiplash injury will fully recover within a time period of 6 weeks. A small amount of people will experience symptoms on and off for up to a year. There is no way to know how long symptoms will last but it is thought that if symptoms of whiplash appear very soon after the injury, then the healing process may take longer.

References Cited in this Article

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.nih.gov

www.mayoclinic.com

An episode of vertigo is similar to dizziness as the person does feel dizzy but it also differs from dizziness in that the person actually feels as if they are moving or that their environment is moving. The most common cause of vertigo is due to changing positions. Going from sitting to standing, bending over and then standing straight again, or standing up from a position of lying down can cause vertigo. These episodes of vertigo are called BPPV, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and are typically not serious and can be effectively treated. Other causes of vertigo include inner ear disturbances such as inner ear infections, decreased blood flow to the brain, a tumor present in the nerve tissues called an acoustic neuroma, trauma to the head or neck, episodes of migraines, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and a condition called Meniere’s disease. An episode of vertigo can last for only a few minutes or as long as a few hours. Aside from the feeling of motion that is not actually present, nausea and vomiting may also occur as well as unusual eye movements, increased sweating, a ringing in the ears, hearing loss, trouble with walking and talking and vision changes.  

Reduce the Frequency

While most cases of vertigo are harmless, it is important to tell your doctor about any episodes that are present. A health history will include questions about the duration and frequency of vertigo, if any recent trauma such as whiplash has occurred and if there are any other symptoms present with the feelings of movement. Lab testing and an EEG may be helpful in examining blood sugar levels and heart rhythm as well. If something other than vertigo is suspected, a CT scan may be requested by the primary care physician to rule out any trauma to the brain or neck. If the cause of vertigo  has been diagnosed as being caused by an inner ear infection, treatment will include antibiotic medication. There are medications that can also be used for other causes of vertigo as well as vestibular rehabilitation exercises that work to place the body in specific positions that would normally cause vertigo and to repeat these positions until the vertigo is no longer present. There are simple ways to reduce the frequency of vertigo including changing positions slowly, eating small amounts of healthy snacks between meals to keep blood sugar levels steady, seeking medical attention immediately following any head or neck  trauma and receiving care promptly if an ear infection is suspected. For people who are at high risk for stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, seeking immediate care when vertigo is present can help to avoid a more serious outcome.

References Cited in this Article

www.mayoclinic.com

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.neurologychannel.com

Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is a serious condition that can affect an individual’s activities of daily living and their overall quality of life.  Most people associate whiplash with an automobile accident and that of course is the number one way to receive whiplash; however, whiplash (WAD) can also be from other accidents including: falls from ladders, roofs, horses, bicycles, skiing and diving accidents, etc.  The signs of symptoms of WAD can be very vague immediately following the accident.  Some sufferers don’t even seek medical care because their completely pain-free.  However, the hours following the accident and typically the next day, victims complain of increased pain in the neck, head, shoulders, headaches, pins and needles in their neck sometimes traveling down their arm into the hands, and even light sensitivity. 

Whiplash treatment

In Whiplash, the muscles and ligaments of the neck get stretched with the acceleration and deceleration and the tiny cervical spine bones can even fracture dislodging segments into free space.  This type of injury, called a tear-drop fracture is extremely unstable and must be treated with a hard cervical collar and possible surgery to correct.  In contrast, most whiplash cases are not severely unstable and can be treated through the use of Chiropractic care.  The Chiropractor will assess the extent of damage through palpation, range of motion evaluation, orthopedic testing, and x-rays if needed.  He/she will then establish a treatment protocol based on the severity of injury and whether it’s acute or chronic.  They will most likely apply some form of hydrotherapy and of course manipulate the cervical spine.  Massage therapy is also an excellent adjunct to treating Whiplash.  The anterior and posterior muscles of the cervical spine get stretched causing micro-tears within the muscle.  Once the patient is no longer in the acute stage, massage therapy may be administered in accordance to the severity of the whiplash and the patient’s pain tolerance.  The massage therapist may also incorporate stretching and trigger point release in order to further release tension.  A Whiplash of even five miles per hour can take a normal cervical spine and completely reverse the curvature.  When this is visible on x-ray, cervical mechanical traction should be introduced as soon as the musculature has had adequate time to heal.  Cervical mechanical traction stretches the deformed ligaments allowing the bones to move and the muscles to maintain in a normal stance.  Ligaments are elastic and very resilient to change; a ligament doesn’t even begin to stretch until six minutes of traction.  This is slowly increased in gradual steps to a maximum of twenty minutes. 

Most Americans will suffer from at least one bout of Neck Pain within their lifetime.  Most incidences of neck pain are related to stress, headaches, or trauma.  The neck is a very delicate structure composed of seven tiny cervical vertebra, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves.  They all work in harmony to create range of motion of the cervical spine such as: flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion.  The atlas is the first cervical vertebra and allows for the most flexion and extension to occur.  The axis is the second vertebra and contains a unique feature to the cervical vertebra known as the dens.  The dens extends upward into the atlas and allows for rotation, the most in the cervical spine. 

Headache

Headaches are a very common source of neck pain and they typically go hand in hand.  There are many types of headaches such as: tension, migraine, sinus, cluster, metabolic, and hormonal.  Their treatment depends on which type the patient has and can range from Chiropractic care, diet changes, pharmaceutical medications, rest, ice, heat, or lying in a quiet room.

Neck Trauma

Neck trauma is one of the most common reasons for neck pain.  This may be due to muscle strain/sprain, whiplash, or a severe blow to the neck from any direction.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) occurs when the neck is put into forceful flexion then extension without the person’s control.  This causes compression and lengthening of the associated structures causing tearing of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons.  Although, this may not cause severe pain at the time of the accident, patients usually experience extreme pain following the accident or the hospital stay.  A hard-collar should always be worn prior to the emergency room visit to reduce the risk of paralysis and permanent injury to the cervical spine. 

Chiropractic Treatment

Once the patient is released from the hospital they may seek the treatment of a Chiropractor to reduce inflammation, pain, and restore range of motion.  They will employ the use of the PRICE regimen which stands for protect, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.  They may also incorporate the use of physiotherapy modalities to further start the healing process such as: electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser, and ultrasound.  In addition, other modalities such as massage therapy and acupuncture may be helpful to facilitate healing.  Chiropractors will use static and kinetic palpation to check for areas of subluxation within the cervical spine.  Once located, the Chiropractor will perform specific adjustments to the area using a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust. 

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition in which a nerve in the neck becomes irritated as it is exiting the spinal canal. Nerves in the neck travel along a course to innervate the arms as well as provide electrical signals to the specific muscles of the shoulders, arms and hands. During a car accident, if a disc becomes herniated due to the force of the accident, cervical radiculopathy can develop from that injury. Symptoms include pain, numbness, weakness and tingling into the shoulders, arms and hands. Neck pain and headaches around the back of the head are common. Reflexes may also be impaired due to cervical radiculopathy. A car accident injury such as a disc herniation that can lead to cervical radiculopathy requires medical intervention.

Discs and Nerves

Treatment for neck pain will not begin until a thorough medical history and physical examination is taken. The physical exam will most likely include a test of the spinal nerves as well. For disc problems, an MRI is the diagnostic imaging tool that is most helpful in showing a physician where the specific problem is located along the spinal column. This imaging can show soft tissue areas as well as discs and nerves. Once the problem area has been located, treatment usually begins with passive care such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, ice therapy (if in the acute stage) and heat therapy (if 48-72 hours after injury), light massage therapy and in some cases mild chiropractic mobilization of the cervical joints. Long-term medical advice may include strengthening exercises of the neck muscles to help protect the cervical spine in the future.

References Cited in this Article

www.umm.edu

www.nih.gov

Most people, when asked about whiplash, would respond that it is a neck injury that is commonly caused by sudden, violent movement of the head and neck. While this is accurate, the injury generally offers a more complex explanation. Following a traumatic event such as an automobile accident or other sudden acceleration/deceleration movements, the soft tissues of the neck become injured. Depending on the severity of the movement, the intervertebral joints and discs of the neck as well as nerve roots can be damaged along with the muscles and ligaments. Again, depending on the amount of trauma, pain may be felt immediately or can take days to develop. Pain can be limited to only the neck area but may also be felt into the shoulders and back. If nerve roots are affected, numbness and tingling into the arms may be felt. Fatigue and depression may follow if a whiplash injury is left untreated or, while treated, pain remains lengthy or unresponsive to care.

More than Meds

 It is recommended that a person suffering from a whiplash injury should take OTC pain medications and/or no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help alleviate pain and swelling in the neck but it is also true that whiplash symptoms sometimes require more than meds to expedite pain relief. Passive physical therapies, along with cervical traction, range of motion exercises and heat therapy may also be prescribed for a patient suffering from whiplash. In most cases, pain and discomfort from a whiplash injury will respond well to conservative treatment and the patient will recover fully within several months. It has been noted that if a patient receives care immediately following acute whiplash injury, their recovery time may be reduced and essentially more successful.

References Cited in this Article

www.nih.gov

www.medicinenet.com

Causes of Whiplash Injury

Whiplash injuries occur when there is an unexpected backward jerk of the head.  Many people will suffer from whiplash when they are rear-ended in an automobile accident.  It is likely that a person will encounter whiplash if he or she is not wearing a safety belt. If trauma was severe during the accident, the vertebrae may be fractured.  Whiplash can even occur during a physical contact sport if the head is jerked around forcefully.  Whiplash happens as a result of the neck muscles being stretched and strained after the body is jerked during a forceful movement.   

Chiropractic Treatment Techniques

Chiropractors use different techniques to treat patients with whiplash including spinal manipulation, muscle stimulation, and exercise programs.  The type of treatment   depends on the severity of the injury and is determined after the chiropractic exam.  Spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustment, involves the chiropractor moving the joint into the opposite direction.  This technique helps restore mobility within the spine and reduces pain or tenderness in the muscles.  The chiropractor may also use a technique called muscle stimulation.  During muscle stimulation treatment, the physician will use stretching techniques on muscles that are tense or inhibited.  If the muscle is extremely tight, the physician will apply pressure with their finger tips on the sore muscle.  Massaging the muscle will reduce tension and pain.      

Whiplash

Almost 3 million people suffer from an injury during a car accident every year.  Some injuries are not diagnosed or treated, leading to more problems in the long run.  After a car accident, a driver may appear uninjured, but in several months, that person may feel the affects of the accident.  Whiplash is a common injury when someone’s automobile is rear ended.  It occurs when there is a sudden jerk of the head at accelerated speeds.  Muscles in the neck become sore and the person may loose some of their mobility in the spine.  To increase the range of motion in the spinal and neck area, one should seek a chiropractor for whiplash treatment. 

Visit to the Chiropractor

On your first visit to the chiropractor, he/she will take x-rays of the injured area to diagnose the problem and select the proper treatment.  It is surprising as to how misaligned some individual’s necks may become after a car accident.  To reduce pain, chiropractors can realign your neck by spinal manipulation, muscle stimulation, and exercise techniques.  This treatment is effective because it corrects the problem rather than prescribing medications to mask the pain.  It is a noninvasive treatment, as there is no surgery involved.  Chiropractic treatment is safe for everyone and it’s strongly encouraged that everyone gets checked out by a chiropractor.  It is wise to visit a chiropractor after a car accident to ensure that all hidden injuries will not occur in the long run. 

Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is a serious condition that can affect an individual’s activities of daily living and their overall quality of life.  Most people associate whiplash with an automobile accident, and that is the number one way to receive whiplash.  However, whiplash (WAD) can also be from other accidents including: falls from ladders, roofs, horses, bicycles, etc. 

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of WAD can be very vague immediately following the accident.  Some sufferers don’t even seek medical care because they are completely pain-free.  However, during the hours following the accident and the next day, victims generally complain of increased pain in the neck, head, shoulders, headaches, pins and needles in their neck sometimes traveling down their arm into the hands, and even light sensitivity.  The muscles and ligaments of the neck get stretched with the acceleration and deceleration and the tiny cervical spine bones can even fracture dislodging segments into free space.  This type of injury, called a tear-drop fracture is extremely unstable and must be treated with a hard cervical collar and possible surgery.  In contrast, most whiplash cases are not severely unstable and can be treated through the use of chiropractic care. 

Establish Treatment

The chiropractor will assess the extent of damage through palpation, range of motion evaluation, orthopedic testing, and x-rays, if needed.  He/She will then establish a treatment protocol based on the severity of injury and whether it is acute or chronic.  They will most likely apply some form of hydrotherapy and manipulate the cervical spine. 

Have you been involved in a car accident injury that left you with residual pain and limited use of your body?  You’re not alone.  Many people get into what they like to call “fender-benders,” where the cars are traveling at low-speeds.  However, once they leave the scene the passengers begin experiencing pain, headaches, inflammation, loss of motor control and range of motion. 

Whiplash

Whiplash is a very common complaint in Chiropractic offices, as well as emergency rooms.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is due to extreme hyperflexion and hyperextension injury causing forceful tearing of the muscles and ligaments in the anterior and posterior cervical spine.  Common symptoms of whiplash include: severe headaches, restricted range of motion, extreme pain and inflammation, and even sometimes fractures called “tear-drop” fractures in the radiology community.  These fractures are extremely unstable and the patient must remain in a cervical collar with possible surgical intervention. 

Seek Proper evaluation

While not all auto accidents leave the driver(s) or passenger(s) debilitated, it is important to realize and seek out proper evaluation and treatment immediately following an accident to prevent further debilitation down the road. 

Seatbelts

Wearing seatbelts is still the best predictor of survival and decreases the severity of the patient’s injuries following an automobile accident.  Seatbelts restrain the individual from hitting the dashboard or even going through the windshield.  Commonly bruising will occur from the seatbelt, or even fractures called “chance fractures” will appear in the spine where the seatbelt restrained the individual.  This is still much better than the alternative of being paralyzed or killed.  If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident, seek medical evaluation by a Chiropractor and follow an established treatment protocol.