About the condition: Whiplash occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is stretched and strained after the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. The injury most commonly occurs in car crashes involving sudden deceleration. The vigorous movement of the head damages the ligaments and tendons in the neck. Tendons are tough, fibrous bands that connect muscles to bone. Ligaments are the fibrous connective tissues that link two bones together at a joint.
Motor vehicle accidents do not have to be severe for a person to develop whiplash, with neck pain and associated injuries often developing following low-speed collisions. In rare cases, whiplash can also sometimes occur following a violent blow to the head – for example, after a fall or during contact sports such as boxing and rugby.
Symptoms: Following an accident, the symptoms of whiplash often take a while to develop. Any inflammation (swelling) and bruising that occurs in the neck muscles will not usually be evident at the time of the accident.
It may take 6-12 hours for the symptoms of whiplash to become apparent, and the neck pain and stiffness is often worse on the day after the injury. The pain may continue to worsen for several days afterwards.
The common symptoms of whiplash include:
neck pain and stiffness
neck swelling
tenderness along the back of the neck
reduced movement in the neck or loss of movement
headaches
Other symptoms of whiplash can include:
lower back pain
pain, numbness or paraesthesia (pins and needles) in the arms and hands
muscle spasms
dizziness
tiredness
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
blurred vision
vertigo – the sensation that you are moving or spinning while standing still
tinnitus – the perception of noise in one ear, both ears or inside the head
(NHS Choices)
Treatment: The outlook for whiplash will vary depending on how severely the neck has been sprained.
The recovery time may take a few weeks if the neck ligaments and tendons are only slightly damaged. However, in severe cases, whiplash and whiplash-associated injuries can last for several months or even years. One study found that the average recovery time for a whiplash injury without any other associated symptoms was 32 days, and that out of 2,627 participants 12% had not recovered six months later (chronic whiplash).
Massage and manipulation to promote healing and wellbeing is recommended. It can often help to restore a person’s range of movement following an injury such as whiplash. As well as helping to relieve pain and stiffness in your neck using massage and manipulation, your chiropractor will also be able to advise you about neck exercises that you can do at home.
“Neck pain after whiplash injuries is very common and one study showed whiplash may occur in accidents at speeds of as little as 6mph. With chiropractic we aim to restore the function and reduce inflammation in the joints and tissues of the neck. After, I find that a specific rehabilitation programme and chiropractic care to maintain the benefits is most effective treatment”.
