Whiplash refers to ligament, tendon, muscle, disc, or even neurological damage that occurs in the neck, or less commonly the upper midback, following a trauma. The most common injury that results in this condition is motor vehicle accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents should always be taken seriously, even if it seems like a minor accident. Recent research shows that often the structures in the neck do not fully recover, particularly following multiple accidents in a short
Mechanism of Injury
In the medical world, mechanism of injury describes the physical forces or situation that resulted in the injuries sustained. Technology advancements have helped us understand what the mechanism of injury for whiplash is and why it can result in so many problems.period of time.
The chart below shows the more recent and updated forces that cause significant injury. We now know that the most significant and damaging part is actually the initial force that occurs right after impact. During this portion there is compression and shear forces happening simultaneously.
Types of Accidents
Any injury that results in rapid changes in head position can cause whiplash. This includes contact sports, slip and fall injuries, skiing, surfing and other similar activities.
When we talk about motor vehicle accidents, being rear ended results in the most damage. Being T-Boned or hit from the side is slightly more favorable in regards to outcomes, with a head on collision being the least damaging.
What often surprises people is the speeds required to cause injury. Speeds as low as 10 mph can cause injury. The faster the speed, the more forces that must be dispersed through the vehicle and person’s body.
Driving a vehicle should always be taken seriously. While the convenience of modern transportation is useful, there is risk every day that can result in lifelong debilitation or fatalities.
Treatment for Whiplash
Whiplash can take longer to heal than many people realize. Disc tissue and ligaments have poor blood supply which results in more healing time needed. Re-injuring tissue during the healing phase can result in scar tissue that never heals
and affects the person for a lifetime.
Chiropractic care, physical therapy, non-surgical decompression, and soft tissue therapy can all be important parts of recovery from whiplash. Many times this care can be covered by auto insurance at 100%, even if you are the at fault party. We see auto accident patients all the time so if you or someone you know is in an accident, even if it seems minor, encourage them to get checked out! It is always better to be overly cautious rather than suffer later.
