By Dr. Dave Edenfield
Whiplash is a non-medical
term associated with overextension of the neck.
More commonly called CAD (for cervical acceleration-deceleration) in the
medical profession, this condition describes the injuries that occur when a
sudden force is applied to the neck that causes it to flex or extend in a
manner that pulls and creates micro-tears in the muscles and ligaments.
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| English: A side view of a person wearing a C spine collar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The most frequent cause of
CAD is a car crash. Surprisingly, it
isn’t always the resulting damage to the car that translates into
whiplash. Speeds of less than 5 MPH
contain enough kinetic energy to cause CAD. This can be complicated by the
condition of the tissues, position of the individuals, and even wether or not
the occupants of the vehicle are wearing seat belts. In may cases the CAD is worse when an
occupant is seatbelted. Other causes of the condition can include bicycle
accidents, falls from ladders, being thrown from a horse, or even slip and fall
accidents. In the US alone over one
million CAD-related injuries are reported each year.
The reason that this type of
injury is so prevalent is in no small part due to the complicated architecture
of the neck. The neck consists of 7
vertebrae, 6 disks, 8 pairs of nerves, plus all the associated soft tissue,
including muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Such a complicated structure is more prone to strain related injury than
other more robustly designed parts of the body, especially when rapid
deceleration occurs in the relatively heavy mass of the head, as is the c
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| Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
ase in
most car accidents.
Even front and side airbags
are not enough to mitigate CAD and in fact can even contribute to injury,
depending upon such factors as height of the occupant, along with seat and
headrest placement. Even gender can have
a bearing, since females as a rule have thinner, less muscular necks. However, the single biggest problem with this
type of injury is the fact that in many cases, most people are not even aware
that they have been injured until much later.
One of the reasons that EMTs
place many car accident victims in a cervical collar following a crash is in
order to stabilize the neck and prevent further injury. In a typical fender bender this is not the
case and so victims may not realize they have whiplash until days or even weeks
after the
accident. Symptoms may include
headaches, muscle spasms and stiffness, difficulty in rotating the head,
difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbances. Depending upon the severity of the injury,
those affected may also experience difficulty chewing, tinnitus (ringing in the
ears) and even vision impairment.
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| English: Lateral view of a C spine collar (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
If you or someone you know is
experiencing any of these symptoms, tell them to go to their chiropractic
physician right away. The doctor will
start by examining the patient’s head and neck to look for signs of trauma,
such as bruises, contusions, cuts and abrasions.
Then a series of orthopedic
and neurological examinations will be performed. Computerized range of motion
is utilized to determine if any abnormal motion is present. Xrays, MRI or CT scan may also be employed as
part of the diagnostic procedure.
Once CAD has been diagnosed,
a number of different treatment modalities may be applied depending upon the
type and severity of the injury, including manipulation, muscle relaxation or
stimulation, laser therapy, cervical decompression, exercise, application of
cold packs, as well as lifestyle modification.
The specific treatment regimen may include one or more of these
approaches.
The key to a lasting recovery
from whiplash involves early detection and remedial therapy. Ignoring symptoms of CAD can lead to
complications, further injury, and a longer treatment regimen. Unlike many neck and back injuries, whiplash
is a treatable pain in the neck that no one should be forced to endure.
Dr. Dave Edenfield and
Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the
team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com who are
dedicated to helping you
and your family lead a healthier, happier and pain-free life.
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Whiplash is one of those injuries that can sneak up on you a little at a time. A couple of years ago I was sitting at a stoplight when I got rear ended. There wasn't that much damage done to the car and I didn't really feel as though I'd been injured so I did not go to the doctor. It wasn't until a few days later when the pain began setting in. Lesson learned.
ReplyDeleteI've had whiplash before and its no picnic. It's the primary reason I get my neck adjusted on a regular basis. I have found that prevention keep my neck pain away. Thanks Doc, great article!
ReplyDeleteHaving had this condition before I can tell you that you don't want to let it go untreated. That will cost you far more than the cure.
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