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Research has discovered that individuals with whiplash-type
injuries may share various characteristics of those with Achilles tendonosis,
offering further insight into possible new treatment options for chronic
whiplash symptoms. The study analyzed the tendons of individuals with
whiplash-associated disorders and found signs of pathological
neovascularization, or the development of blood vessels in abnormal tissues, comparable
to what has been found in individuals with Achilles tendonosis.
According to researchers from Umea University in Sweden and
Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Florida, the findings guarantee
that identical treatments which successfully treat Achilles tendonosis may be
just as effective towards treating whiplash injuries.
Whiplash injuries occur when the body is inflicted with a
tremendous force that causes the head to jerk in a back-and-forth motion,
resulting in damage or injury to the ligaments, tendons, and other complex
structures of the neck, or cervical spine. A whiplash injury can sometimes
create tiny micro tears in the tendons of the neck which can cause tendonosis.
Tendonosis should not be confused with tendonitis, which simply refers to the
inflammation of tendons due to acute injury or repetitive strain injuries.
Although many individuals are able to recover from their
injuries in a couple of weeks, a majority of them often suffer from continuous
symptoms. Researchers then analyzed whether studies of Achilles tendonosis
could offer insight into the causes behind the chronic symptoms of whiplash.
The
research conducted to examine the symptoms of chronic pain in the Achilles and
patellar tendons demonstrated the presence of high blood flow in the more
painful areas of the tendons. Additionally, later studies revealed that these particularly
painful tendons showed the characteristic similarity of blood vessel growth in
abnormal tissues. Through the study, researchers also determined that injections
of anesthetics into these vessels could provide temporary symptom relief.
The
researchers from Umea University in Sweden utilized the same imaging techniques
used in the Achilles tendonosis studies to determine changes in the tendons of
individuals who suffered from whiplash injuries during auto collisions. Individuals
with whiplash showed more areas with high blood flow, and the blood flow was
intensified at each examined region. Areas of high blood flow were evident
where the tendons entered into the bone. In the study, women with whiplash were
more likely to have more areas of high blood flow than men, evidence that may
suggest why there’s higher rates of whiplash injuries in women.
If
you’ve experienced a whiplash-type injury as a result of an automobile
accident, it’s important so seek immediate medical attention to help prevent
the development of chronic whiplash symptoms tied to tendonosis and muscle
damage or injury. Chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies and massages,
as well as exercise rehabilitation can ultimately help heal the damaged and/or
injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other structures of the neck or
cervical spine after whiplash-associated disorders.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
