Whiplash is a term that describes an injury to the neck that occurs after a motor vehicle or car accident.  The most common type of car accident is the rear impact, and most typically the occupant in a vehicle which gets “rear-ended” is at the greatest risk of injury, including the injury termed whiplash.

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Until recently, the cause of the pain resulting from a whiplash injury was poorly understood.  Also, as a result of legal and insurance issues, people who complained of neck pain and symptoms after an accident were often viewed as suspect.  Recent research has helped to clarify why people involved in a rear end collision experience a greater incidence of injury than those in other types of accidents.  This new information is important for the doctor treating whiplash pain, since it impacts upon how to best serve the person who is suffering from these injuries.

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Whiplash injuries are often very complex, and can include a variety of related problems including:

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Joint Dysfunction:

One or more joints of the spine may loose its proper resiliency and shock absorption resulting in a restricted range of movement and pain.

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Disc Herniation:

A whiplash accident may injure the discs between the bones of the spine leading to small tears.  These small tears allow the jelly-like center or nucleus to bulge out causing pressure on delicate, sensitive spinal nerves.  These injuries can create pain which radiates from the neck into the arm, and can also cause numbness, tingling and even grip strength and arm weakness.

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It is important to seek care from a car accident chiropractor, like us who has the training to successfully manage whiplash injury, along with the expertise to explain the causes of these injuries.