Whiplash Chiropractic Treatment MN | Neck and Back Injuries
Whiplash and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) represent a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck usually in a motor vehicle accidents, usually when the vehicle has been hit in the rear. When a vehicle is struck from the rear it is accelerated forward, causing the seatback to push against the occupant’s torso and propel it forward.
whiplash Head Motio
The head lags behind the torso until the neck reaches its limit of distortion, then the head is suddenly accelerated by the neck much like the tip of a whip, hence the term whiplash. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.
The number of milliseconds that takes place during the whiplash process after impact (~500 msec.) and the fact that voluntary muscle contraction takes longer (~800 msec.) makes it next to impossible to adequately “brace” prior to impact, even when the collision is anticipated.
Although whiplash is most frequently the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can occur in several other situations including:
- Slip and fall or tripping accidents
- Bicycle, motorcycle, and all-terrain vehicle crashes
- A direct blow to the face, neck, head, or back (usually from playing sports)
- Diving into shallow water
- Roller coasters and other amusement park rides that hyper-extends the neck or causes it to be snapped suddenly and violently in the wrong direction. Head, neck, and back injuries, and even whiplash are commonly reported amusement park injuries.
- Sports injuries such as football, gymnastics and many other contact sports
The most common symptom reported by whiplash victims is pain due to mild muscle strain or minor tearing of soft tissue. Other injuries include nerve damage, disc damage, and in the most severe cases ruptures of ligaments in the neck and fractures of the cervical vertebrae. Minor whiplash injuries generally are associated with pain and decreased range of motion in the head and neck. These symptoms usually last only a short time, but occasionally they last longer.
The neck may not be the only affected area as whiplash can often extend into other areas such as the upper back, shoulders and arms. Most likely, a whiplash victim will suffer from headaches, numbness and tingling sensations, spasms and stiffness of muscles.
Whiplash Injuries and Chiropractic
Studies are clear that whiplash patients make a faster, less painful recovery, return to work and desired activities faster and are the most satisfied when utilizing chiropractic when compared to covering up the symptoms with medications that have negative side effects that interfere with being able to think and ultimately, reduce productivity.
Spinal Adjustment
Whiplash and whiplash-associated disorders is a common affliction in the United States with up to 42% of patients exhibiting long term symptoms. Most treatments used in dealing with this ubiquitous problem have not been shown to be effective by rigorously controlled scientific studies. The one exception to this finding is Chiropractic spinal manipulation — also called Spinal adjustment!
What is important is that ALL Research has shown that chiropractic has been a very effective approach to healing whiplash. In fact, the findings of success with this problem are so compelling it led to the conclusion that Chiropractic Is The Only Proven Effective Treatment For Whiplash In Chronic Cases!
So, what are you waiting for? SPREAD THE WORD to everyone that you know who has neck pain from whiplash. – Chiropractic may be the best choice!
