ChiroTrust

The ChiroTrust Pledge

  • Member Login
  • Non-Member D.C.
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • CTS
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches
  • Whiplash
  • Whole Body
    • Exercises
  • Joint Pain
    • Shoulder Pain
    • Hip Pain
    • Knee Pain
  • Advanced
You are here: Home / Whiplash / Whiplash: What’s the “Best Evidence” These Days?

Whiplash: What’s the “Best Evidence” These Days?

June 16, 2016 by ChiroTrust

573
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
GoogleLinkedin

Whiplash, or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorders), refers to a neck injury where the normal range of motion is exceeded, resulting in injury to the soft-tissues (hopefully with no fractures) in the cervical region. There are a LOT of factors involved that enter into the degree of injury and length of healing time. Let’s take a closer look!

Picture the classic rear-end collision. The incident itself may be over within 300 milliseconds (msec), which is why it’s virtually impossible to brace yourself effectively for the crash as a typical voluntary muscle contraction takes two to three times longer (800-1000 msec) to accomplish.

In the first 50 msec, the force of the rear-end collision pushes the vehicle (and the torso of the body) forwards leaving the head behind so the cervical spine straightens out from its normal “C-shape” (or lordosis). By 75-100 msec, the lower part of the neck extends or becomes more C-shaped while the upper half flexes or moves in an opposite direction creating an “S” shape to the neck. Between 150-200msec, the whole neck hyper extends and the head may hit the head rest IF the headrest is positioned properly. In the last 200-300 msec, the head is propelled forwards into flexion in a “crack the whip” type of motion.

Injury to the neck may occur at various stages of this very fast process, and many factors determine the degree of injury such as a smaller car being hit by a larger car, the impact direction, the position of the head upon impact (worse if turned), if the neck is tall and slender vs. short and muscular, the angle and “springiness” of the seat back and relative position of the headrest, dry vs. wet/slippery pavement, and airbag deployment, just to name a few.

Some other factors that can predict recovery include: limited neck motion, the presence of neurological loss (nerve specific muscle weakness and/or numbness/tingling), high initial pain levels (>5/10 on a 0-10 scale), high disability scores on questionnaires, overly fearful of harming oneself with usual activity and/or work, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress, poor coping skills, headaches, back pain, widespread or whole body pain, dizziness, negative expectation of recovery, pending litigation, catastrophizing, age (older is worse), and poor pre-collision health (both mental and physical).

Research shows the best outcomes occur when patients are assured that most people fully recover and when patients stay active and working as much as possible. Studies have shown it’s best to avoid prolonged inactivity and cervical collars unless under a doctor’s orders. It’s also a good idea to gradually introduce exercises aimed at improving range of motion, postural endurance, and motor control provided doing so keeps the patient within reasonable pain boundaries. Chiropractic manipulation restores movement in fixed or stuck joints in the back and neck and has been found to help significantly with neck pain and headaches, particularly for patients involved in motor vehicle collisions. A doctor of chiropractic may also recommend using a cervical pillow, home traction, massage, and other therapies as part of the recovery process.

It is important to be aware that fear of normal activity and not engaging in usual activities and work can delay healing and promote chronic problems and long-term disability. It’s suggested patients avoid opioid medication use due to the addictive problems with such drugs. Ice and anti-inflammatory herbs or nutrients (like ginger, turmeric, and bioflavonoids) are safer options. Your doctor of chiropractic can guide you in this process!

573
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
GoogleLinkedin

Related Articles

Whiplash – Who Will Get Better? Though most patients with a whiplash injury improve within a few months, about 25% have long-term pain and disability that may persist for many months or years. Now, a team of scientists from Northwestern Medicine Feinberg school of Medicine reports that it may be possible to determine which whiplash patients will develop chronic pain, disabili...
Collisions & Concussions – New Data! Are you of the belief that you have to hit your head in order to have a concussion or that concussions are easily diagnosed and managed? If so, then you are not alone! In fact, traumatic brain injury (TBI)—the proper term used when bleeding occurs within the skull occurs—and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)—the term applied when no bleeding occur...
Whiplash Avoidance (…continued) This article is part 2 of a 2 part series. For Part 1, click here. Last month, we discussed car safety features, proper headrest position, how to prepare for a crash, and seeking immediate treatment as ways to minimize the chances of suffering from whiplash in the event of an accident. Here are four more ways to avoid or minimize whiplash: PA...
Whiplash – The Importance of Seatbelts! Whiplash is a very common problem afflicting millions of people every year. In fact, there are more than 6 million car accidents each year in the United States alone. Death associated with car accidents occurs every 12 minutes and each year, motor vehicle collisions (MVC) kill 40,000 people. For people between 2 and 34 years old, MVCs are the leadi...

Filed Under: Whiplash

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Leave Your Comment Below!

Michael Roizen, M.D.
Chief Wellness Officer At The Cleveland Clinic

Members of ChiroTrust® have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge”: “To the best of my ability, I agree to provide my patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. I will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches
  • Whiplash
  • Whole Body Health
  • Advanced Articles
  • Exercises

Search:

Most Shared Articles

  •  
    Fibromyalgia – “What Can I Do for This Pain?”...
    8.3k Shares
  •  
    Concussion,The Cervical Spine,and Spinal Manipulation...
    5.9k Shares
  •  
    Fibromyalgia and the Immune System...
    8.4k Shares
  •  
    10 Tricks to Manage Low Back Pain...
    6.6k Shares
  •  
    Truths & Myths of MRI for Low Back Pain...
    4.9k Shares
  •  
    Neck Pain – The MOST Important Exercises (Part 1)...
    3.3k Shares
  •  
    Chiropractic and Helping the Aging Population...
    3.1k Shares
  •  
    Fibromyalgia “Diet” – Is There Such a Thing?...
    2.4k Shares
  •  
    Fibromyalgia and HOW TO IMPROVE SLEEP!...
    2.3k Shares
  •  
    Can Chiropractic Help My Headaches?...
    7.4k Shares

© Copyright 2017 ChiroTrust® · All Rights Reserved
Sitemap

This information is not to be considered, use as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please talk to your health care provider for anything related to your health including but not limited to diagnosis and treatment advice and/or care. None of the information offered through this website represents or warrants that any particular doctor, care, products, or services is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. Always seek the advice of a health care professional. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or call for emergency medical help on the nearest telephone.
7ads6x98y

Share This Post With Your Friends!

Whiplash: What’s the “Best Evidence” These Days?

573
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
GoogleLinkedin