Whiplash Treatment Center - Dallas, TX

WHIPLASH - HOW IT OCCURS AND SYMPTOMS

 

Basic Whiplash Symptoms

» Neck pain or stiffness
» Blurred vision
» Difficulty swallowing
» Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus)
» Irritability
» Dizziness/Light headed (Vertigo)
» Shoulder pain
» Arm, legs, feet or hand pain
» Headache
» Low back pain or stiffness
» Nausea
» Numbness or tingling (“pins” or “needle” feeling)
» Jaw or face pain
» Fatigue or weakness

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY TO SCHEDULE AN EXAMINATION IF YOU ARE EXPIERINCING ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS AND ASK TO BE REFERRED TO Z THERAPY FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.

What is a "Whiplash Injury"?

 

Car Crash Statistics	Results of rear-ender on drivers
12.5 million car crashes yearly in the US	Up to 60% are symptomatic after six months
2.5 million are rear end collisions	About 33% are symptomatic for 2 years
Nearly 2 million whiplash injuries reported	10% become chronically disabled for life
Source: National Safety Council

 

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY TO SCHEDULE AN EXAMINATION IF YOU ARE EXPIERINCING ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS AND ASK TO BE REFERRED TO Z THERAPY FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.

A whiplash injury occurs when the head is suddenly forced beyond the normal limits of motion. For example, in a rear-end collision, the neck muscles violently snap the head forward. Then an immediate reflex causes the head to propel backward. As this happens, the supportive soft tissues in the neck are often over-stretched or torn, and spinal joints can become misaligned. Misaligned vertebrae can cause the nerve roots and blood vessels in your neck to become compressed, stretched or irritated, which may interfere with nerve transmission and blood supply to vital body functions.

In a whiplash injury, the normal curve of the cervical spine is altered, and joint motion becomes restricted. Weakened tissues are no longer able to support the vertebrae in proper position, so it may be difficult to keep your head upright after a whiplash. The instability of the structures in your neck can cause anything from dizziness and pain to loss of strength and limitation of movement.

Whiplash describes the injury of soft tissues which resulted from /acceleration/deceleration force. The most common mechanism is a motor vehicle accident. It seems that these injuries are complex and involve the following: Facet joints, intervertebral disc, altered motion of the neck, and centers in the brain the perceive pain. These may cause temporary or chronic pain that depends on the extent of injury.

 

Law of physics dictate that energy from one object must be dissipate completely to another either by deforming the other object, or changing its velocity. As car No 1 strikes car No 2, several changes occur. The speed of car one decreases, car No.1 increases speed, and energy is absorbed by car No 2 which deforms it and increases its velocity. This force is transferred to the passenger and causes the soft tissue injuries. Also the most mobile section of the spine while seated is the neck. This leads to abnormal and violent motion of the neck leading to bony or soft tissue injuries. The neck is first forced forward, and then rebounds backward and strikes the head rest until the force is diminished.

Studies have shown that if the impact is anticipated the extent of injury is lowered. In situations that the impact is anticipated, reflex muscle contractions stabilize the neck and decrease the extent of injuries. Furthermore, postural difference will also dictate the extent of injury. The stabilizing reflex is most efficient when the neck is held in good straight posture. Stronger muscles also promote better stabilization of the neck and result in more minor injuries compared to a weak neck musculature. Since the driver of the cars are usually more aware of the impact prior to its occurrence, we usually see higher level of injury with the passengers. Women usually sustain greater injuries due to the weaker musculature.

Pain is usually most pronounced two days after the impact and can last weeks and even months. This scenario is the most common and is caused by a simple muscle strain. If other structures are injured, the pain and dysfunction may persist leading to a worse prognosis. If symptoms last more then six months the patient has 43% chance for continued pain and dysfunction. Injury to intervertebral disc, neural tissue, and joint capsule carry worse prognosis. Delay in treatment may also compromise recovery since it may delay diagnosis and further injury from instability. Occupants that are older then 65 and have weaker muscular support are at increased risk as well. Head restraints that are more than 2 inches away from the occupants head allow greater motion of the neck and head prior to stopping it. This allows greater injury and leads to lower recovery potential. If the passenger has prior history of neck pain due to degenerative disc disease, prior neck operations, or prior whiplash injury, the likelihood of greater injury is higher. The smaller the size of the car, the less energy it will absorb. The remaining energy must dissipate on the passenger concluding that smaller cars will cause more soft tissue injury to the passengers.

Judging the severity of the impact based on damage to the car can be misleading. The energy of the impact must dissipate either in the frame work of the car or the passenger. If the energy of impact is just below the force required to deform the frame of the car, then most of the energy will dissipate with the patients. This situation will cause injury to the passengers but will spare the structure of the car.

Injury to the neck is common in an automobile accident, even low speed impacts (a 8 MPH collision produces two times the force of gravity, or a 2-G acceleration of the car and a 5-G acceleration of the head) as a sudden movement of the head whether backward, forward, or from side to side can cause injury, stretching or tearing of the muscles or ligaments. Disc injury can also occur. Rear-end collisions cause the most injury. If your head was turned at the time of impact, this also can intensify the injury. Three million whiplash injuries occur in the United States each year.

Even after whiplash, victims settle their claims, some report problems up to two years later. 60-70% complain of headaches, 62-98% complain of neck pain which begins hours to days after the accident.