The Basics of Car Accident Whiplash Injuries

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

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 Car Accident 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.

For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .  

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

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