whiplash and chiropractic

Whiplash – what is it?

A sudden movement of the head, backwards, forwards, or sideways. Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth faster than you are able to protect your muscles, ligaments and joints. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve root in the neck can get stretched and irritated. The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in a mix of symptoms.

The neck consists of 7 cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) held together by muscles and ligaments, intervertebral discs (shock absorbers), joints enabling motion, and a system of nerves. The complexity of the neck`s anatomy coupled with its diverse range of motion makes it susceptible to whiplash.

The symptoms usually result from injury to the neck`s soft tissues; the intervertebral discs, muscles, and ligaments. Muscle tears characteristically present with burning pain accompanied by tingling sensations. Ligaments affected by excessive joint movement can cause muscles to defensively tighten limiting motion. `Wry neck`, a condition associated with whiplash, occurs when the neck muscles responsible for head rotation/extension cause the neck to twist involuntarily.

Symptoms (Top 10 symptoms)

  • Neck pain &/or stiffness (97%)
  • Headache (97%)
  • Pain between the shoulder blades/Shoulder Pain (65%)
  • Anxiety (55%)
  • Low back pain/stiffness (42%)
  • Depression (41%)
  • Visual symptoms – blurred vision (35%)
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (33%)
  • Dizziness (23%)

Other symptoms include:

  • Ringing in the ears
  • Memory loss
  • Numbness/tingling in limbs
  • Difficulty swallowing
RESEARCH – SUPPORTS CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF WHIPLASH PATIENTS

· 93% of Whiplash patients improve with chiropractic. The authors of this study examined the effectiveness of chiropractic in 28 patients with chronic whiplash pain. The patients were referred to the chiropractic physician an average of 15.5 months after the accident, and were interviewed before treatment by both an independent chiropractic and orthopedic physician. The patients were assigned to one of four classification groups: A – No Symptoms; B – Symptoms are a nuisance; C – Symptoms are intrusive: and, D – Symptoms are disabling. The initial evaluation placed 27 of the 28 patients in groups C or D.

§ “Following treatment, 26 (93%) of the patients had improved: 16 by one symptom group and 10 by two symptom groups. This improvement was independent of whether it was assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon or a chiropractor.

Woodward MN, Cook JCH, Gargan MF, Bannister GC. Chiropractic treatment of chronic “whiplash” injuries. Injury: international Journal of the Care of the Injured 1996:27(9): 643-645.