The human spine is a sensitive part of the body, and the neck is even more so. The term “whiplash” often doesn’t sound serious to people, as it tends to conjure imagery of light, potentially non-serious injuries. This is not always true. Whiplash injuries vary tremendously, with some patients experiencing serious complications for a long period following the injury. The following sections define whiplash while identifying symptoms and describing how whiplash patients can get relief.
What is Whiplash?
What is whiplash? The name is unique for a reason. Whiplash is an injury caused when the head is suddenly jerked backward and forward, much like a whip cracking, hence the term whiplash. Such injuries can happen in a variety of circumstances, but the most common occur in rear-end car accidents. Such an accident can strain and even seriously damage the neck’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons, resulting in discomfort, pain, and even mobility loss. One study described how whiplash occurs. The following is an excerpt from that study:
“The most recent literature suggests that whiplash injury may occur as a result of hyperextension of the lower cervical vertebrae in relation to a relative flexion of the upper cervical vertebrae, which produces an S-shape of the cervical spine at the time of impact. This differs from the normal physiology where motion of the cervical spine begins with the upper vertebrae.”
For most people who experience it, whiplash is a temporary injury that can be troublesome for the duration of the injury, but that will ultimately heal. However, some people experience chronic pain and long-term health ramifications associated with whiplash due to more severe injuries, which is why early and effective whiplash treatment is essential to one’s recovery.
How Common is Whiplash? Whiplash Statistics
According to one study, about three million Americans experience whiplash injuries every year, most of whom experience them due to car accidents. About 1.5 million people suffer chronic pain each year as a result of a whiplash injury, and about 300,000 people experience whiplash injuries that are so severe they become disabled as a result.
Nearly half of all chronic neck pain in the U.S. is attributed to motor vehicle accidents, primarily low-speed, rear-end collisions. It’s an expensive problem financially, too, as the overall economic burden of whiplash injuries (including medical care, disability, lost workplace productivity, and sick leave) is estimated at $3.9 billion annually in the U.S. alone.
What are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
Because the human neck and spine are so complicated in their structure and composition, whiplash symptoms vary widely based on the type of injury and the musculoskeletal health of the individual who received the injury. To further complicate matters, whiplash symptoms often do not manifest at the moment of the injury or in the moments that follow. One may feel fine after a car accident or other incident but then begin to experience severe neck pain, headaches, and stiffness days or even weeks later. The most common symptoms of whiplash include but aren’t limited to:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
Severe cases of whiplash can involve symptoms like:
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Mobility issues in the neck and head
- Chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, or back
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things, brain fog
How Do I Treat Whiplash?
Chiropractic spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments are an important part of the treatment and recovery process when healing from whiplash-related injuries. Chiropractic care is an all-natural therapy that involves the chiropractor using their hands to adjust and treat misalignments in the spine, also known as subluxations.
Spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments can, in many cases, begin to correct the damage caused by whiplash, thus relieving pain in the soft tissues, increasing circulation, and stimulating the body’s nervous system. The doctor may also use physical therapy techniques and exercises in the office to help relieve pain and strengthen the patient’s neck to reduce the likelihood of repeat injuries. In some cases, patients are given exercises to do at their home to help with pain relief and joint strengthening.
Chiropractic care is often essential for treating whiplash because chiropractic treatments focus on realigning the spine, reducing pain, and restoring normal function to the affected areas. Chiropractic adjustments allow blood flow and nerve function to return to areas of the body where such functions were disrupted, thus facilitating healing in the affected intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots. Every whiplash case is different, but some of the best chiropractic whiplash treatments include:
- Assessment of the severity of whiplash
- Spinal manipulation to correct misalignment caused by whiplash
- Soft tissue therapy to heal muscles, ligaments, and tendons affected by the injury
- Manual therapy, hands-on techniques for decreasing inflammation in the affected areas
- Pain management techniques and rehabilitation exercises done in the clinic and at home
- Exercises for the strengthening and restoring of one’s range of motion following the injury
- Temperature-assisted therapy via heat and ice, ultrasound therapy, and electrical stimulation
Treating Whiplash at the Best Chiropractor in Franklin, Tennessee
The best chiropractor in Franklin, Tennessee, will utilize various treatment methods to address whiplash. For example, Cool Springs Chiropractic utilizes modern X-ray scans in the exact frequency needed to maximize patient results while creating a safe, effective treatment environment. As Franklin’s best chiropractic office, Cool Springs Chiropractic carefully analyzes each whiplash case to determine its severity and the necessary treatments to facilitate healing.
Quoting Dr. Peter Hinz, Franklin’s award-winning chiropractor, on the subject of whiplash:
“Whiplash is a common injury caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head. It can cause the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots to become damaged. In fact, in more severe cases, whiplash may injure the brain, causing a concussion or traumatic brain injury. Due to the number of different delicate body structures that can be hurt in a whiplash injury, the symptoms of whiplash can be widely varied, which also means the treatment approach will vary based on the patient’s symptoms.”
Dr. Peter Hinz went on to say that Cool Springs Chiropractic treats whiplash via a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes rather than masking symptoms:
“At Cool Springs Chiropractic, our expert team provides tailored chiropractic care to address our patients’ unique health needs, including whiplash injuries. Whether patients are looking to relieve pain, improve mobility, or enhance their overall wellness, we’re here to help them achieve their goals through a patient-centered approach that accurately diagnoses conditions through the use of X-rays and then treats the underlying problems causing those symptoms. The result? Our patients leave our office feeling pain-free, healthier, happier, and more mobile.”
Schedule an appointment by calling (615) 503-9900 or use our online system to access a limited-time $49 New Patient Special. Our office is located at 3252 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 13, in Franklin, Tennessee—email info@coolspringschiropractic.com for information or to ask a question.
Sources Cited:
[1] NIH. “Whiplash: diagnosis, treatment, and associated injuries.” National Institutes of Health, 2007. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
