WHIPLASH
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DEFINITION: Hyperflexion or hyperextension of the neck due to the body's
reaction to a deceleration or acceleration force.
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 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.”
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