Treating Whiplash
Do you know that there are more vehicular accidents than those from airplanes and boats combined? Everyday, millions of people drive their vehicles, with some, at great speed. Thus, road accidents are inevitable. As a matter of fact, not less than 10 million of people are treated for vehicular-accident-related injuries every year in the United States alone. And unfortunately, the number is continuously growing.
Around 45% of collisions happen when the front part of a vehicle crashes into the rear end of another. Such accident cases bring about the common whiplash injury. While tissue damage is involved during the accident, the various symptoms are not likely to show up immediately.
Only a few people know that back and neck injuries from a vehicular accident which are left untreated can lead to arthritis. Recent studies conducted showed that almost 40% of those with whiplash injuries develop arthritis within a few years. Whiplash does not just happen in high-speed crashes, but in low-speed and low-impact accidents as well.
Unfortunately, treating whiplash is not likely to happen when the patient is rushed to the emergency room after the accident. Generally, emergency rooms focus in giving emergency treatment to injuries like broken bones, internal injuries, hemorrhaging, and others. They evaluate life-threatening medical conditions and are equipped with treatments for such.
Due to the fact that whiplash symptoms rarely appear until after several hours or days after the crash, a whiplash injury is mostly diagnosed only when it has become very apparent.
Treating whiplash injury should be as aggressive as treating broken bones. This is because the possible long-term effects involved in injuries to the soft tissue are mostly greater than those in broken bones. Although the injuries to the soft tissue are likely to heal naturally, healing can be far from perfect. Thus, it is a typical scenario that people with untreated whiplash experience constant pain and disability.
The treatment for whiplash injuries is highly varied. However, chiropractic techniques and the use of anti-inflammatory medications seem to be the most popular methods of treating whiplash. Since one whiplash injury is different from another, it is not that easy to recommend a certain chiropractic treatment appropriate for each case. Chiropractors practice five common procedures, where each may be used alone, or combined with others.
Spinal manipulation is usually the top choice for joint-related problems. This technique works to realign the spine’s joints and help them achieve normal movements. The procedure includes head rotation, followed by a slow movement or a quick thrust.
Relaxation method or muscle stimulation treats muscles issues caused by a whiplash injury. Muscles which seem weak will be stimulated to improve contractions. Tensed muscles, on the other hand, will be stretched to release tension.
The McKenzie exercises may also be recommended for whiplash patients whose spines have been realigned, and who desire to have active roles in the treatment. These exercises will be demonstrated at the chiropractor’s clinic, and specific instructions will be given to the patients as well.
Sensorimotor or stabilization exercises are also effective techniques. These are used so that the nervous system may achieve better coordination and improved movements. Such exercises also serve to strengthen the neck muscles, and enhance their stability.
Ergonomic and lifestyle recommendation is the whiplash treatment option that is meant more to assist in the prevention of whiplash than in its actual treatment. This considers the patient’s hobbies, job, and other activities, which may cause undue stress and irritate the whiplash injury. The chiropractor will offer advice on how to carry out these activities without stressing one’s self.
Although most of the pain caused by accidents goes away with time, there are some which leave more than just their handprints.