Back Clinic Whiplash Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Team. Whiplash is a collective term used to describe injuries to the cervical spine (neck). This condition often results from an automobile crash, which suddenly forces the neck and head to whip back and forth (hyperflexion/hyperextension). Almost 3 million Americans are hurt and suffer from whiplash annually. Most of those injuries come from auto accidents, but there are other ways to endure a whiplash injury.
The symptoms of whiplash may include neck pain, tenderness and stiffness, headache, dizziness, nausea, shoulder or arm pain, paresthesias (numbness/tingling), blurred vision, and in rare instances difficulty swallowing. Soon after it happens at the acute phase the chiropractor will focus on reducing neck inflammation utilizing various therapy modalities (eg, ultrasound).
They might also use gentle stretching and manual therapy techniques (eg, muscle energy therapy, a type of stretching). A chiropractor may also recommend you apply an ice pack to your neck and/or light neck support to use for a short time period. As your neck gets less inflamed and the pain diminishes, your chiropractor will execute spinal manipulation or other techniques to restore normal movement to your neck’s spinal joints.
Automobile accidents are emotionally and physically traumatic events. After an accident, individuals assume that they are okay if they don’t have any broken bones or gashing cuts. However, even minor accidents can lead to significant damage, but the individual doesn’t know it. An invisible/delayed injury is any injury that is not immediately obvious or is not experienced by the individual until hours, days, or weeks later. The most common are soft tissue injuries, back injuries, whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding. This is why it is imperative to see a doctor or chiropractic accident specialist as soon as possible after an accident.
Invisible Injuries Auto Accidents
The body goes into a fight or flight mode in a vehicle accident. That means a massive adrenaline surge makes anything happening to the body go unnoticed and unfelt. The individual does not feel pain and discomfort symptoms until later or much later.
Soft Tissue
A soft tissue injury affects muscles, tendons, ligaments, and body parts other than bone.
Even at low speeds, accidents, and collisions generate a significant force on the body.
Drivers and passengers often come to a sudden stop along with the vehicle or get thrown around.
This places intense stress on joints and other areas of the body.
Whiplash
The most common invisible soft-tissue injury is whiplash.
Where the neck muscles are suddenly and forcefully thrown forward and then back, causing the muscles and ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range of motion.
The injury typically results in pain, swelling, reduced mobility, and headaches.
Symptoms may not present right away.
Left untreated, whiplash can lead to long-term chronic pain.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are another common invisible injury.
Even if the head did not hit/impact anything, the force and momentum can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull.
This can lead to a concussion or even more serious brain injuries.
Concussion
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. Individuals can have a concussion without losing consciousness, depending on the accident’s severity. Symptoms may be delayed or not experienced, but delayed treatment can lead to a longer recovery. Symptoms can include:
Fatigue.
Headache.
Confusion.
Inability to remember the accident.
Nausea.
Ringing in the ears.
Dizziness.
Back Muscles or Spine Injuries
Back muscles and spinal cord injuries are invisible injuries that can happen after an automobile accident. Signs of a back injury include:
The back muscles can be strained due to the impact and tension build-up.
Sore muscles or pain may not present until a day or two later.
Body stiffness.
Reduced mobility.
Muscle spasms.
Trouble walking, standing, or sitting.
Headaches.
Numbness and tingling.
Injuries to the spine, even serious ones, may not be apparent immediately.
The impact can cause the spine to shift out of alignment profoundly.
Swelling and bleeding in or around the spinal cord can cause numbness or paralysis that can gradually progress.
This invisible injury can have long-term consequences, including paralysis.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic is an effective treatment for neuromusculoskeletal injuries. The chiropractor will assess the damage and its severity to determine the best treatment for the individual. It relieves pain and discomfort symptoms, loosens and relaxes the muscles, and restores alignment, mobility, and a full range of motion. Chiropractic uses several tools and techniques to restore the spine and body balance. Results include:
Barach, P, and E Richter. “Injury prevention.” The New England Journal of Medicine vol. 338,2 (1998): 132-3; author reply 133. doi:10.1056/NEJM199801083380215
Binder, Allan I. “Neck pain.” BMJ clinical evidence vol. 2008 1103. 4 Aug. 2008
Duncan, G J, and R Meals. “One hundred years of automobile-induced orthopedic injuries.” Orthopedics vol. 18,2 (1995): 165-70. doi:10.3928/0147-7447-19950201-15
“Motor Vehicle Safety.” Annals of emergency medicine vol. 68,1 (2016): 146-7. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.04.045
Sims, J K et al. “Automobile accident occupant injuries.” JACEP vol. 5,10 (1976): 796-808. doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(76)80313-9
Vassiliou, Timon, et al. “Physical therapy and active exercises–an adequate treatment for prevention of late whiplash syndrome? Randomized controlled trial in 200 patients.” Pain vol. 124,1-2 (2006): 69-76. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.03.017
Neck injuries and whiplash symptoms can be minor and go away within a few days. However, whiplash symptoms can manifest days later and become varied and chronic, ranging from severe pain to cognitive problems. These are collectively called whiplash-associated disorders because of the varied complexity of the symptoms. A common condition is a whiplash nerve injury. These injuries can be severe and require chiropractic treatment.
Whiplash Nerve Injury
Surrounding muscles, tissues, bones, or tendons can cause a whiplash nerve injury. The neck’s spinal nerve roots become compressed or inflamed, leading to cervical radiculopathy symptoms of tingling, weakness, and numbness that can radiate down the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. Typically, cervical radiculopathy is only felt on one side of the body, but in rare cases, it can be felt on both sides if more than one nerve root is affected.
Neurological Cervical Radiculopathy
Neurological problems can become severe and can reduce the ability to perform many routine tasks, such as gripping or lifting objects, writing, typing, or getting dressed.
Cervical radiculopathy involves one or more of the following neurological deficiencies.
Sensory – Feelings of numbness or reduced sensation. There can also be tingling and electrical sensations.
Motor – Weakness or reduced coordination in one or more muscles.
Reflex – Changes in the body’s automatic reflex responses. An example is a diminished ability or reduced hammer reflex exam.
Symptoms
Because every case is different, symptoms vary depending on the location and severity. Symptoms can flare up with certain activities, like looking down at a phone. The symptoms then go away when the neck is upright. For others, symptoms can become chronic and do not resolve when the neck is resting and supported. Common symptoms include:
Fatigue
Decreased energy levels could be related to sleep problems, depression, stress, pain, concussion, or nerve damage.
Memory and/or concentration problems
Cognitive symptoms could involve difficulty with memory or thinking.
Symptoms can start shortly after the injury or not appear until hours or days later.
Cognitive problems could be from a brain injury or related to various types of stress.
Headaches
This could be neck muscles tightening or a nerve or joint becoming compressed or irritated.
Dizziness
Dizziness could be from neck instability, a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury, and nerve damage.
Vision problems
Blurry vision or other visual deficits could result from any number of causes, including concussion or nerve damage.
Vision problems could also contribute to dizziness.
Ringing in the ears
Also called tinnitus, this can be ringing or buzzing in one or both ears and can range from intermittent and minor to constant and severe.
Whiplash complications such as injury to the brain region that controls hearing, nerve or vascular damage, jaw injury, or stress can lead to tinnitus.
Chiropractic Care
The appropriate chiropractic treatment is unique to each whiplash nerve injury and is directed at the primary dysfunctions detected during the initial examination. A personalized treatment plan addresses factors in an individual’s work, home, and recreational activities. Treatment includes:
Massage manual and percussive for nerve and muscle relaxation
Goldsmith R, Wright C, Bell S, Rushton A. Cold hyperalgesia as a prognostic factor in whiplash-associated disorders: A systematic review. Man Ther. 2012; 17: 402-10.
McAnany SJ, Rhee JM, Baird EO, et al. Observed patterns of cervical radiculopathy: how often do they differ from a standard “Netter diagram” distribution? Spine J. 2018. pii: S1529-9430(18)31090-8.
Murphy DR. History and physical examination. In: Murphy DR, ed. Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000:387-419.
Shaw, Lynn, et al. “A systematic review of chiropractic management of adults with Whiplash-Associated Disorders: recommendations for advancing evidence-based practice and research.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 35,3 (2010): 369-94. doi:10.3233/WOR-2010-0996
Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Vol. 1, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkens, 1999.
After a car accident, you may notice neck pain. It could be a slight soreness you think is nothing but take care of. More than likely, you have whiplash. And that little soreness can turn into a lifetime of chronic neck pain if only treated with pain meds and not treated at the source.
Whiplash trauma, aka neck sprain or neck strain, is an injury to the soft tissues around the neck.
Whiplash can be described as a sudden extension or backward movement of the neck and flexion or forward movement of the neck.
Severe whiplash can also include injury to the following:
Intervertebral joints
Discs
Ligaments
Cervical muscles
Nerve roots
Symptoms of Whiplash
Most people experience neck pain either immediately after the injury or several days later.
Other symptoms of whiplash trauma can include:
Neck stiffness
Injuries to the muscles and ligaments around the neck
Headache and dizziness
Symptoms & possible concussion
Difficulty swallowing and chewing
Hoarseness (possible injury to the esophagus and larynx)
The sensation of burning or prickling
Shoulder pain
Back pain
Diagnosis of Whiplash Trauma
Whiplash trauma usually causes damage to the soft tissues; a doctor will take x-rays of the cervical spine in case of delayed symptoms and rule out other problems or injuries.
Treatment
Fortunately, whiplash is treatable, and most symptoms resolve completely.
Most often, whiplash is treated with a soft cervical collar.
This collar may need to be worn for 2 to 3 weeks.
Other treatments for individuals with whiplash may include the following:
Heat treatment for relaxing muscle tension and pain
Pain meds such as analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
Some people will tell you that whiplash is a made-up injury that people use to get more money in a settlement stemming from an accident. They do not believe it is possible in a low-speed rear-end accident and see it as a legitimate injury claim, mainly because there are no visible marks.
Some insurance experts claim that about a third of whiplash cases are fraudulent, leaving two-thirds of the cases legitimate. Much research also supports the claim that low-speed accidents can indeed cause whiplash, which is very real. Some patients suffer from pain and immobility for the rest of their lives.
NCBI Resources
Chiropractors will use different techniques to relieve the pain of whiplash and help with healing.
Chiropractic Adjustment The chiropractor performs spinal manipulation to move the joints into alignment gently. This will help to align the body to relieve pain and encourage healing.
Muscle Stimulation and Relaxation This involves stretching the affected muscles, relieving tension, and helping them relax. Finger pressure techniques may also be combined with trying to alleviate pain.
McKenzie Exercises These exercises help with disc derangement that whiplash causes. They are first performed in the chiropractor’s office, but the patient can be taught how to do them at home. This helps the patient have some degree of control over their healing.
Each whiplash case is different. A chiropractor will evaluate the patient and determine the appropriate treatment case-by-case basis. The chiropractor will determine the best course of treatment that will relieve your pain and restore your mobility and flexibility.
Whiplash-associated disorders, or WAD, describe injuries sustained from sudden acceleration/deceleration movements. It is a common outcome after a motor vehicle collision but can also be caused by sports injuries, falls, or assaults. Whiplash refers to the mechanism of the injury, while WAD refers to the presence of symptoms like pain, stiffness, muscle spasm, and headaches. A WAD prognosis is unpredictable, with some cases remaining acute with a full recovery, while others progress to chronic conditions with long-term symptoms and disability. Early intervention recommendations include rest, chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation, massaging and stretching exercises, and an anti-inflammatory diet.
Whiplash Associated Disorders
Cervical hyperextension injuries happen to drivers and passengers of moving, slow-moving (less than 14 miles per hour), and stationary vehicles when struck from behind.
The individual’s body is thrown forward, but the head does not follow the body and instead whips forward, resulting in hyperflexion or extreme forward movement of the neck.
The chin limits forward flexion, but the momentum can be sufficient to cause cervical distraction and neurological injuries.
When the head and neck have reached maximum flexion, the neck snaps back, resulting in hyperextension or extreme backward movement of the neck.
Pathology
Most WADs are considered soft tissue-based injuries with no fractures.
Stages
The injury goes through stages:
Stage 1
The upper and lower spine experiences flexion in stage one.
Stage 2
The spine takes on an S-shape while extending and eventually straightens, causing lordosis.
Stage 3
The entire spine is hyperextending with an intense force that causes the facet joint capsules to compress.
Symptoms
Whiplash-associated disorders can be classified through grades by the severity of symptoms, including neck pain, stiffness, occipital headache, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar back pain, upper-limb pain, and paraesthesia.
Grade 0
No complaints or physical symptoms.
Grade 1
Neck complaints but no physical symptoms.
Grade 2
Neck complaints and musculoskeletal symptoms.
Grade 3
Neck complaints and neurological symptoms.
Grade 4
Neck complaints and fracture and/or dislocation.
Most cervical fractures occur predominantly at C2 or C6, or C7.
A chiropractor will identify areas of restricted joint motion, muscle tension, muscle spasm, intervertebral disc injury, and ligament injury.
They will analyze posture, and spinal alignment, check for tenderness, tightness, and how well the spinal joints move.
This will allow the chiropractic physical therapy team to understand the injured body mechanics and how the spine is operating to make a thorough diagnosis.
The doctor will order imaging tests like an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any degenerative changes that may have existed before the whiplash injury.
Once the injury has been accurately diagnosed, the chiropractor will design a personalized treatment plan.
Spinal Adjustments
Spinal manipulation is applied to areas of the spine that are out of alignment to realign the spine and activate the healing process.
Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle technique that uses slower, less intense pushing motions on the discs used to treat disc herniations that often occur after a whiplash injury.
Instrument-assisted manipulation utilizes special instruments to apply various forces or massage settings to the area.
Targeted spinal manipulation targets specific areas to rework, release, and rebuild the structures.
Massage Therapy stimulates the affected muscles to relax them from their tense state.
A treatment plan may utilize:
Instrument-assisted therapy
Trigger point therapy
Resistance-based stretches to rehabilitate soft tissue damage.
Our chiropractic team is ready to help you feel your best so you can return to normal activities and get on with your life.
Ritchie, C., Ehrlich, C. & Sterling, M. Living with ongoing whiplash-associated disorders: a qualitative study of individual perceptions and experiences. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 18, 531 (2017). doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1882-9
Sterling, Michele. “Whiplash-associated disorder: musculoskeletal pain and related clinical findings.” The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy vol. 19,4 (2011): 194-200. doi:10.1179/106698111X13129729551949
Wong, Jessica J et al. “Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration.” The spine journal: official Journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 16,12 (2016): 1598-1630. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2015.08.024
Woodward, M N et al. “Chiropractic treatment of chronic ‘whiplash’ injuries.” Injury vol. 27,9 (1996): 643-5. doi:10.1016/s0020-1383(96)00096-4
A whiplash injury can cause pain for months, even years after the accident/incident. It can cause persistent pain in the neck, shoulders, back, as well as, headaches, and sleep problems. Waiting to see if it will go away is not recommended. Chiropractic treatment can effectively and successfully expedite the healing process getting back to normal life as quickly as possible. Chiropractors treat whiplash successfully using a combination of techniques, approaches, and exercises for pain relief, recovery, and long-term spinal health. The extent and severity of the whiplash injury determine what type of chiropractic treatment will be implemented.
The Severity of a Whiplash Injury
Whiplash injuries are often the result of:
Automobile accidents
Work injuries
Sports
Amusement park rides
It is primarily an injury of the neck muscles and ligaments, but can also damage the vertebral discs. It is not considered a serious or life-threatening injury, but it can cause long-term complications and severe chronic pain. The biggest risk comes from the delayed presentation of symptoms. It can take days and sometimes weeks for the effects of the injury to present. Individuals that are older or those with arthritis are more likely to have severe and long-term issues.
Other Symptoms
Typical symptoms like neck pain, blurry vision, stiffness, and dizziness are well known. These can range from mild to severe, and last for a few days, weeks, or, in severe cases, years. However, there are some symptoms that most don’t know about and include:
Individuals should be alert for signs/symptoms that the injury requires immediate medical attention. If any of the following are experienced seek immediate care.
The arms, shoulders, or legs are numb, tingling, and/or weak
The neck pain and stiffness return after going away
Bowel or bladder problems could indicate nerve damage
Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment depends on the individual case. A doctor of chiropractic will determine the right treatment plan by the:
The severity of the pain
Location of the injury
Accompanying symptoms
Medical history
X-rays will be taken of the affected area to rule out any other trauma or injury. The chiropractor will evaluate the entire spine. This is based on how one part of the body influences other areas with the objective being to get the whole body functioning successfully at optimal levels.
Treatment Options
Some of the more common treatments for whiplash include:
Initial
Visiting a chiropractor a short time after the injury means the neck will be inflamed. The doctor will utilize gentle, anti-inflammatory options like:
Cold therapy
Ultrasound
Stretching
Electrical therapy
Laser therapy
Spinal Manipulation
There are different types of spinal manipulation, these include:
Specific Manipulation
This type involves a gentle but firm thrusting, usually done with the hands to the soft tissue areas. It stimulates the nervous system to realign subluxations, and restore mobility/flexibility of the spinal joints and vertebrae.
Flexion Distraction Technique
This is also a hands-on technique that treats slipped and bulging discs. This type of treatment utilizes a pumping motion on the disc/s and not the spine itself.
Instrument Assistance
This treatment is used for patients with degenerative disc disease. Special instrument assistance is often used in combination with hands-on care.
Massage
Massage promotes healing, reduces pain, and improves blood circulation in and around the affected area. It helps relieve tension/stress in the shoulder and neck.
Stretching and Trigger Point Therapy
The muscles and tendons can become tight. A chiropractor will gently stretch the area to relieve pain, ease tension, and reduce tension headaches. Trigger point therapy uses persistent pressure by the chiropractor’s fingers. It relaxes and releases the tight areas.
McKenzie Exercises
McKenzie exercises help reduce disc tears common to these types of injuries. The chiropractor will show how to perform these simple movements at home as part of the recovery.
What to do outside of the clinic
A chiropractor will offer tips and guidance on how to successfully avoid worsening the injury or create new injury/s. Stretches and exercises will be recommended to strengthen and maintain flexibility. Depending on an individual’s:
Overall health
Posture
Work/Occupation
Lifestyle factors
They will offer recommendations to avoid long-term issues.
Body Composition
Successfully regaining fitness after an injury
It is difficult to predict how long it will take to regain a previous level of fitness after an injury. Retraining to peak condition depends on the injury and how much damage was done. A key factor is to not adopt a sedentary lifestyle.Muscle memory can help as the muscles have special cells in the fibers that can recollect previous movements. This means when back to working out after an extended layoff, the body is able to regain the lost muscle. Some tips to help get back into shape:
Ease back into working out to avoid/worsen the injury
Wait a month before starting a less-intense version of a regular workout
Patience and persistence are essential to regaining fitness successfully.
Disclaimer
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
References
Dagenais, Simon, and Scott Haldeman. “Chiropractic.” Primary care vol. 29,2 (2002): 419-37. doi:10.1016/s0095-4543(01)00005-7
Ritchie, Carrie et al. “Medical and allied health service use during acute and chronic post-injury periods in whiplash injured individuals.” BMC health services research vol. 20,1 260. 30 Mar. 2020, doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05146-0
Ferrari, Robert, and Anthony Science Russell. “Survey of general practitioner, family physician, and chiropractor’s beliefs regarding the management of acute whiplash patients.” Spine vol. 29,19 (2004): 2173-7. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000141184.86744.37
Motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, work injuries, and falls are a few causes of whiplash. It is a condition that affects over 1.5 million individuals. It can cause serious side effects that can last for months and sometimes years. If not treated, the symptoms can worsen and lead to chronic conditions and pain.
Mild Whiplash
Mild whiplash can last around three months. During this time individuals might notice other symptoms other than neck pain that includes:
In certain cases, these symptoms happen immediately or they can be delayed.
Severe Whiplash
Severe whiplash means symptoms last longer than three months. The side effects can progressively go away or may not disappear at all. Severe whiplash falls in the whiplash classification of three to four. This indicates that there is a:
Loss of motion
Neurological problems
Fracture/s
Taking time off work for a whiplash injury depends on how severe the condition is. For mild symptoms, individuals are recommended to take about a month off to fully recover. If the condition is extreme, it could take a few years. For some individuals, the injury prevents them from working, and they have to leave their job.
Tinnitus
After a whiplash injury, some individuals develop tinnitus. This is a condition that results from the jolted ligaments and can irritate the surrounding nerves. This can cause an irritating ringing noise in the ears. How long tinnitus lasts depends on the severity of the injury. It can present every so often or could remain for several months even years.
Recovery Time
For most individuals, it takes around 4-6 weeks for a full recovery. This could last longer if the injury is not healed properly.
Chronic whiplash can present shooting pain throughout the body and prevents individuals from living a normal life. For chronic conditions chiropractic and physical therapy are highly recommended. Treatment could be difficult at first, but improvements will follow as long as the individual stays consistent with the therapy to completely heal the injury.
Treatment Options
The first recommendation will be to rest the body. This gives the body time to recover and also prevents worsening the injury. Ice packs and heating pads can help reduce swelling and pain.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors are experts in the musculoskeletal system. They inspect the whole body looking and feeling for misalignments, knotted muscles, swollen tendons, and ligaments that were stretched/pulled beyond their normal range. Various types of adjustments can be used. The most common are flexion-distraction and instrument-assisted.
Flexion-Distraction adjusting requires the chiropractor’s hands. They feel around the problem area and press their hands to slide the joint back in place.
Instrument-Assisted – utilizes a special tool, like an activator. The device helps the chiropractor delve deeper into the area than their hands. This helps them locate problems that could be hidden.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Adding more anti-inflammatory foods to the diet will reduce and alleviate inflammation and swelling. Some of these foods include:
Avocados
Blueberries
Mushrooms
Olive oil
Salmon
Strawberries
Turmeric
Vitamins
A full recovery can take longer if the body lacks essential nutrients. These nutrients are what helps the body create enzymes that repair the damaged tissues, bones, tendons, etc. If the body does not have enough it will not heal properly. Essential vitamins to take for injuries include:
These can be taken in supplement form or through food sources.
Body Composition
The body loses muscle every minute of life. This is because the muscles, like the other tissues in the body they depend on cell turnover and protein synthesis. This means that the body continually breaks down the protein in the muscles and rebuilds them. This is how the body is supposed to function and part of what keeps it alive. Skeletal muscle can be grown and developed with proper nutrition. This includes eating sufficient protein to provide the necessary amino acids and regular physical activity.
The reverse is also true becoming less physically active and the individual’s diet no longer supports the development of increased muscle tissue the body enters a catabolic/tissue-reducing state known as muscle atrophy.Muscles that are partially used meaning using less than 20% of their maximum force begin to atrophy over time. Muscles that are completely unused, like when bedridden with very little movement, can degrade around 1/8th of strength per week.
Disclaimer
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
Car accidents, even minor ones, can cause musculoskeletal problems, especially in the neck and shoulder area. Depending on the severity, it can be dangerous. When whiplash symptoms do not present immediately, this is known as delayed whiplash. Delayed symptoms can appear anywhere from twenty-four hours to months after the accident. The body is masking the symptoms to react to a traumatic event. Symptoms like:
Pain
Stiffness
Headache
Anxiety
Present within 24 hours, but this is not always the case.
Delayed Symptoms
With delayed whiplash, symptoms typically don’t appear until 24 hours after the accident. But there are cases of symptoms being delayed up to six months. Whether immediate or delayed, symptoms include:
Medical treatment should be sought out immediately if any of the below symptoms are experienced:
Weakness in the arms
The neck pain spreads to the shoulders and arms
Unbearable pain
Loss of vision
Causes of Delayed Whiplash
The most common cause of whiplash is automobile accidents. Even a slow-speed tap can cause delayed whiplash symptoms if the head snaps quickly, and it is not only being hit from behind in automobile accidents that cause whiplash. Rear-end, front-end, and side collisions can cause whiplash and delayed whiplash symptoms. Any time the neck snaps in a quick fashion in any direction there is potential for a neck injury. Some less common causes include:
Specific types of falls where the head quickly snaps around
Cycling accidents
Skating/skateboarding accidents
Skiing/snowboarding accidents
Symptoms Can Get Worse With Time
Determining whether to seek medical attention if there is no pain or symptoms after the event can be difficult. However, symptoms can get worse over time and cause serious problems in the neck:
Small fractures
Ruptured discs
Pinched nerves
Untreated Whiplash
Whiplash can get worse with time when they are not treated. This is why seeking medical care after the event is significant. As a doctor, a chiropractor can diagnose if any serious issues are present and develop the best plan to deal with pain and symptoms. When left untreated chronic whiplash and neck pain can develop. Chronic whiplash is rare but does happen, even with injuries considered not severe. Medical professionals will use X-Rays, MRIs, or CT scans to examine the damage’s extent and prevent the symptoms from worsening.
Treatment Options
Wearing a neck brace immediately following a neck injury can be an option but there is evidence that some movement of the neck and head should be incorporated, as it is beneficial for the healing process. If the pain is unbearable, wearing a brace could be implemented into a treatment plan.
Ice and Heat
Ice and heat will help with stiffness and pain.
Ice will help relieve pain and should be used in 15-minute intervals.
Heat packs and ointments can help soothe the area, loosen up the muscles, and promote optimal healing.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Meds
Advil or Ibuprofen can be taken for pain and inflammation. These meds help the symptoms, but should not be the only pain reliever.
Ginger
Ginger tea can help those suffering from nausea and dizziness.
It contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Supplements include green tea, turmeric curcumin, fish oil, and sage.
CBD Oil and Ointment
CBD oil or ointments can help relieve pain and relax muscles.
Stretching
Gentle stretches can help the healing process and keep the neck muscles loose.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic can treat whiplash utilizing several different techniques. They will perform tests to diagnose the extent of the injuries and determine what type and the best treatment plan. The plan can include the following:
Inflammation reduction and Pain relief
Heat, ice, ultrasound, and laser therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Spinal Adjustments
Spinal adjustments will help relieve pain from pinched nerves, bulging discs, and strained muscles.
Massage
Massage is a common practice in whiplash cases. It helps to kickstart the healing process by:
Promoting proper blood and nerve energy circulation
Loosens the muscles
Flushes out the toxins
Stretches and Tips
A chiropractor will train the patient on specific stretches/exercises and pain-relief tips at home. These can include:
Physical therapists can help by focusing on the muscles in the affected area.
They will teach the individual stretches and exercises to stretch and strengthen the strained muscles.
They can also utilize heat and ice therapy, ultrasound, and laser therapy.
Body Composition
Hot Yoga and Metabolic Rate
Both internal and external temperatures influence the body’s metabolic rate. The body’s chemical reactions happen more quickly if the temperature is higher. This is because the body works harder to restore average temperature balance. Brief exposure to heat is not enough to increase metabolism. To raise BMR, more prolonged exposure to heat is necessary. This is where hot yoga comes in. Hot yoga involves performing a sequence in a studio that is 105 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity rate of 40%. It is an intense workout that involves sweating. The high heat:
Increases blood flow
Warms the muscles for deep stretching
Helps the lymphatic system release toxins
Raises the body’s Basal Metabolic Rate
References
Balla, J I. The late whiplash syndrome. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of surgery vol. 50,6 (1980): 610-4. doi:10.1111/j.1445-2197.1980.tb04207.x
Fitz-Ritson D. Phasic exercises for cervical rehabilitation after “whiplash” trauma. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 1995 Jan;18(1):21-24.
Seferiadis, Aris, et al. A review of treatment interventions in whiplash-associated disorders. The European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society vol. 13,5 (2004): 387-97. doi:10.1007/s00586-004-0709-1
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