Whiplash and Motor Vehicle Crashes

What is a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is a common neck injury that typically occurs when the head is suddenly jolted backward and then rapidly forward in the opposite direction. This abrupt motion overstretches and strains the neck's muscles and ligaments, often causing short-term acute neck pain and restricted mobility. Whiplash is frequently associated with rear-end auto accidents but can also happen in sports or even during activities like riding a roller coaster.

Whiplash involves a two-part mechanism. In the first part, the head lags behind the body, forcing the neck into an extended position. In the second part, as the head catches up with the body, it flexes forward, causing a traumatic flexion of the neck, like snapping a whip.

Common symptoms of whiplash includeneck stiffness, neck pain, andheadaches, particularly in the back of the neck. In some cases, individuals may experience vertigo or dizziness. If left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic pain and various discomforts.

There can also be whiplash injuries to the lower back as well. Whiplash of the lower back is caused by a sharp, sudden movement of the torso either forward and backward or from side to side. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash in the lower back.

The violent movement causes the lower back to be forced beyond its normal ranges of motion, resulting in tendons, ligaments, and muscles being overstretched. The most common symptoms that you can experience after having some lumbar whiplash are pain, swelling, and stiffness of the lower back.

With whiplash, you might also experience weakness, numbness, spasms, tingling, pins and needles, and even cramping. So if you or someone you know has been in a recent auto accident, reach out. We can't wait to help you navigate the path back to doing the activities you love pain-free.

Seeing a chiropractor can help decrease chronic pain. We start the healing process on day one and help begin the pain relief process immediately. This will ensure that you are not on a track for daily pain but on the road to recovery.
A chiropractor can help decrease the onset of headaches and neck pain. This can be a big aspect of patients who have been in an accident. Those who deal with headaches know this can be a battle but chiropractic can offer some relief.
Chiropractic Care is drug-free. We understand many people are looking for a more conservative approach to treating their pain and we believe chiropractic can help. Chiropractic is also a non-invasive treatment that oftentimes allows you to leave each appointment with some relief.
Chiropractic care can help increase mobility. By adjusting certain areas of the spine we can improve joint mobility so you can return to normal function post-accident sooner.

The first step involves muscle work, particularly for acute injuries. We utilize Graston tools on the neck to promote healing and increase blood flow to the area for those who are dealing with cervical whiplash. In our video, you can see just how we address the issue in the neck area with the tools while having the patient perform movements to stimulate the area and generate heat. We also utilize the Active Release Technique for the muscles as well.

For those comfortable with it, we perform adjustments to the area to enhance joint movement. However, some individuals may be too acute or have conditions that make adjustments unsuitable. For those patients, we have an instrument called thePulstar machine.

The final phase involves neck-loading exercises to bolster strength and stability. Using a light band you are going to perform isometric exercises, emphasizing maintaining a neutral and tall spine. The goal is to engage neck muscles and contribute to post-auto accident recovery.