3 Common Causes of Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a non-medical term that is used to describe pain in the neck after an injury to the soft tissues of the neck occurs.
This condition sometimes can take a couple of days to show symptoms, so it is important to pay attention to your body in the days following your accident.
After an accident, it's important to see a Whiplash Injury Chiropractor.
This blog discusses the three most common causes of whiplash injuries, what to do following a whiplash injury, and a proper course of treatment.
Table of contents:
- Whiplash injuries
- What to do if you suffer a whiplash injury
- Contact the best whiplash chiropractor in Georgia
There are a variety of causes that can lead to Whiplash Injuries.
Whiplash is a common injury that occurs due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Whiplash is commonly caused by rear-end motor vehicle accidents.
But whiplash can also result from sports accidents, physical abuse, high-impact activities, and other types of traumas, such as a fall.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end car accidents are one of the most common ways for someone to suffer from whiplash.
When a motor vehicle is moving at relatively slow speeds (10-15 mph) or above, and it is hit from behind by another vehicle, soft tissue damage to the neck is likely to occur due to the backward and forwards movement of the neck.
The unexpected force that is exerted on the body will cause the head to be thrown backward and then quickly followed by a forwards motion.
When this violent and forceful movement occurs, the soft tissues in the neck and the cervical spine are very likely to become damaged.
Slips and Falls
Whiplash can also occur in a slip or fall accident. Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, especially on uneven or wet floors.
When a person slips, or trips and either hits an object or the floor when falling, the impact can cause soft tissue damage to the ligaments and tendons very similar to that of a car accident.
The quick, sudden force of the backward and forward movement of the neck will cause similar damage to the ligaments and tendons in the neck, causing whiplash to occur.
Sports Injury
Whiplash injuries can also occur in contact sports, such as football and rugby.
The extreme acceleration-deceleration force that is associated with whiplash injuries is often experienced in various sporting scenarios, especially contact sports.
Whiplash injuries often occur during an impact between two players or when one player is thrown to the ground.
In some sports, it's common for the players to be in a situation where whiplash is likely to occur on a daily basis.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Physical symptoms and signs of whiplash aren't always immediately apparent, but they usually develop within days of the injury.
Some of the most common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Chronic neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
- Loss of range of movement in the neck
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Pain in shoulders
- Dizziness
- Chronic headaches
Some less frequent whiplash symptoms are:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Depression
What To Do If You Suffer a Whiplash Injury
If you are involved in an accident that causes you to suffer a Whiplash Injury, it's crucial to your recovery to visit a Chiropractor as soon as possible.
Whiplash Injuries cause severe pain and discomfort in your neck, and in some cases, symptoms of whiplash may take hours or days after the accident to become apparent.
This can be dangerous for the victim because a doctor's visit may be put off due to a lack of pain immediately following the accident.
When the victim does begin to experience neck pain from the whiplash injury, they might not associate the pain with the accident.
This means they will be stuck paying out-of-pocket for their injury, which may have been covered if someone else was at fault for the accident.
It's always advised to seek medical treatment after an accident for this exact reason. Your doctor will be able to diagnose and help with pain reduction before the injury can become worse.
See A Chiropractor For Your Whiplash
The best treatment to seek for whiplash injury treatment is chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is similar to physical therapy, and chiropractors are specially trained in and specialize in treating neck and back soft-tissue injuries.
When you see a chiropractor immediately after an accident, they will ask about your symptoms and perform a comprehensive physical exam, sometimes including x-rays, to determine if you're suffering from whiplash.
Along with the physical exam, your chiropractor will review your medical history before putting together at personalized treatment plan.
Your treatment plan may include spinal adjustments, stretches, and exercises to regain strength and mobility.
If it is safe to do so, your chiropractor will likely begin your treatment that very same day.
This helps to prevent long-term pain that can often be associated with untreated whiplash injuries.
What Happens If Whiplash Is Left Untreated?
Most people who have whiplash feel better within a few weeks and don't seem to have any longer-term symptoms from the injury.
However, some people continue to have pain for several months or years after the injury occurred, especially if their symptoms are ignored.
It is difficult to predict how each person with whiplash may recover, and that's why you should always see a chiropractor if you think there is a chance you have whiplash.
Here is an article that defines Long Term Effects of Whiplash after a Car Accident.
In general, you may be more likely to have chronic pain if your first symptoms were intense, started rapidly, and included:
- Severe pain in the neck
- More-limited range of motion in the neck
- Pain that spread to the arms
The following risk factors have been linked to a worse outcome:
Contact the Best Whiplash Chiropractor in Georgia
When you sustain a whiplash injury after an accident, it's important to seek the help of an experienced chiropractic specialist for pain relief as soon as you can.
Having your injury assessed and treated the same day the accident occurs may prevent a worse injury from appearing.
The Chiropractors at Arrowhead Clinic specialize in treating the victims of whiplash injuries.
When you come to our clinic, you will receive a thorough exam by the doctor to determine the best treatment plan for your recovery.
It is our goal to help you return to your normal daily routine as quickly as possible.
We offer free consultations to whiplash injury victims. This gives us a chance to talk to you regarding your accident, and to determine how we can best assist with your recovery.
Click the banner now to speak with one of our experienced Whiplash Injury Chiropractors today.
