Millions of individuals suffer whiplash-associated injuries
in the United States alone due to the increasingly high number of car accidents,
which unfortunately occur on a regular basis. A majority of these victims may
then develop symptoms of neck and back pain over time. In fact, approximately half
of all motor vehicle incidents result in some degree of car accident whiplash
injuries, accounting to about 3 million people each year.
The Risks of Whiplash
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Individuals who were solely involved in rear-end impacts
face up to a 50 percent chance of suffering from car accident whiplash injuries,
and of those injured, there is also the risk they will develop further
complications, such as chronic pain symptoms and/or degenerative conditions. Roughly
half of all people with chronic neck pain can associate their issues to a prior
car accident.
The neck is a complex structure composed of vertebral bones,
joints, discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves and other
tissues. During an auto accident, the force from the impact will act against
the body, frequently causing the head to jolt abruptly back-and-forth in any
given direction, otherwise known as whiplash.
Whiplash can damage or injure the structures located around the
cervical spine. The sudden motion of the neck stretches the surrounding tissues
causing spinal misalignments, or subluxations, muscle, tendon and ligament
strains and tears as well as pinched nerves and spinal degeneration over a
period of time. The most common symptoms for this type of neck injury include; neck
pain and stiffness, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue and headaches at the
base of the skull. Other symptoms include; concentration and memory issues,
irritability and an inability to sleep as a result of previously mentioned
symptoms. If the injury is left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic
symptoms, postural complications, and arthritis, ultimately decreasing the body’s
overall function for a longer period of time.
Weakened Ligaments after Whiplash
Furthermore, although car accident whiplash symptoms usually
develop within 24 hours after the auto collision, some individuals may not
experience symptoms till after several days, weeks and even months. What’s
worse is, many other individuals may also never experience any whiplash
symptoms while they may have been potentially affected by an underlying injury
or condition.
Chiropractic for Whiplash
Therefore, if you’ve suffered from car accident whiplash,
make sure to seek immediate medical attention and receive a proper diagnosis
even if you didn’t experience symptoms following the auto collision. Chiropractic
care is an effective, alternative treatment option commonly utilized to
diagnose and treat numerous injuries and conditions, including whiplash and
other car accident injuries. Chiropractors focus on naturally restoring the health
of the body through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations,
gradually re-aligning the spine and decreasing the pressure of its surrounding
structures. Additionally, a doctor of chiropractic may recommend a series of
exercises to improve the individual’s range of motion and speed up the
rehabilitation process.
With chiropractic care, many individuals suffering from car
accident whiplash can experience decreased symptoms, ultimately restoring their
health and quality of life.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
