Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Whiplash is a term that is used to classify a range of injuries to the neck associated with extension.  Whiplash is commonly associated with Motor Vehicle Accidents, typically when the vehicle is hit in the rear.  While the exact mechanism of injury is not known, the head can go through violent flexion followed by rapid extension or vice versa.  This can cause actual TEARING of the tissues and ligaments and can result in severe pain.  This tearing will result in scar tissue and lead to CHRONIC PAIN and eventually ARTHRITIS.  

SHOCKING WHIPLASH INJURY STATISTICS

•  Approximately 15 to 40% of those injured in automobile accidents will struggle with chronic pain for the rest of their life.   Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007
• Whiplash injuries not only increase your chances of chronic neck and shoulder pain, they also increase the probability of other seemingly unrelated health problems.   Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2001
• The longest-running study ever done on whiplash patients looked at the health status of whiplash patients almost twenty years after their automobile accident.  55% of those patients still deal with chronic pain.   Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2002
• One in one hundred people around the world (1% of the population is just over 70 million people) suffer from ongoing chronic neck pain due to a whiplash injury.  Injury, 2005
• One in fifty people injured in Whiplash-like accident deal with chronic pain severe enough to need diagnostic testing, medications, and doctor visits, on an ongoing basis ----- nearly eight years after the accident.  Pain, 1994

Chiropractic care is MANDATORY following a whiplash injury for several reasons.  First, damaged tissue will turn into scar tissue.  Scar tissue is unlike other tissues in that it doesn't contract properly, so range of motion is lost and, it is more sensitive thus more painful.   I have seen many patients with CHRONIC migraine headaches due to extensive scar tissue in the cervical spine due to motor vehicle accidents.  

CHIROPRACTIC BENEFITS FOR WHIPLASH PATIENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH BACK AND NECK PAIN

• Over 50 years ago, research pointed out that the most effective treatment for whiplash injury does not involve medication, but instead needs mobilization, manipulation and traction to heal. The best results for patients with whiplash injuries require early and regular joint mobilization.  Furthermore, it must be done by someone expertly trained in rehabilitation of injured joints.  Journal of the American Medical Association, 1958
• For injured soft tissues to heal properly requires joint movement / motion.  Joint immobilization should be avoided.  Textbook of Orthopedic Medicine, 1982 & Continuous Passive Motion, 1993
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments fix over 4/5 of disabled patients suffering from chronic low back and sciatica.  This is true despite the failure of other approaches. Canadian Family Physician, 1985
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been proven superior in the treatment of chronic and acute low back pain, when compared to hospital outpatient treatment. These benefits of chiropractic adjustments were still seen 3 years post-treatment.  British Medical Journal, 1991
  Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been shown to be more effective than physical therapy mobilizations and manipulations.  Lancet, 1991
• 93% of those struggling with chronic pain due to whiplash injury ---- who have already failed medical care and physical therapy ---- improve significantly under chiropractic care. Injury, 1996
• When it comes to chronic neck pain, manual manipulation of the neck has been shown to be significantly better than pain meds and exercise.  Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002
• Chiropractic spinal adjustments have been clinicly proven to be over five times more effective than NSAID's (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) for chronic neck and low back pain.  In this study, the chiropractic group suffered from no adverse reactions, but the the NSAID group had more patients reporting adverse drug reactions than were actually helped.  Half the NSAIDS used in the study are now off the market.  Spine, 2003
• For chronic neck and back pain, chiropractic spinal adjustments proved signifigantly better than both acupuncture and pain medicines.  Furthermore, chiropractic adjustments were the only treatment studied that showed therapeutic benefit one year post-treatment.  Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2005
• In patients with chronic pain from DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS, 59% can eliminate their pain meds by taking omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (EPA & DHA).   Surgical Neurology, 2006

At our Chiropractic offices in Golden, and Idaho Springs, Colorado, we work diligently on making sure that chronic pain and arthritis are avoided .  If you have been in any type of accident, please contact our offices for a FREE consultation.  


Take Responsibility for Your Health Today.


Dr.  Courtney Conley
Chiropractor, Golden CO