Whiplash injury causes many symptoms. It is one of the most common injuries to the neck. It results from the sudden movement of the head either forward, backward or sideways. The supporting muscles, ligaments, discs of the neck and upper back can get damaged.
These soft tissues support the vertebra of your neck. Discs are in between the bones and many times get injured during accidents. All of these tissues help stabilize the spine and protect the delicate nerves.
A car crash is one such trauma that can cause whiplash injury. Your neck is subjected to a rapid and violent motion. The delicate ligaments of your spine get stretched and possibly torn from the dramatic forces. Whiplash injury causes possible chronic pain and disability. Unfortunately many people don’t feel pain right after an accident. Sometimes the pain occurs months or years later.
Research shows that just a 3 mile per hour bumper hit is enough to weaken these tissues. Then a 2006 Japanese study performed an anatomoical study of the neck during simulated whiplash motion. It showed that forces in even a mild collision can stretch the ligaments, reducing their ability to stabilize the spine. Weakened ligaments reduce the stability of the spine. This can results in permanent disability and chronic pain.
It is important to get checked immediately after a car accident even if you have no symptoms. The delayed start of treatment can make it more difficult to correct the damage to the tissues. Chiropractic is proven effective in restoring the spine’s function. This helps prevent chronic pain, disabilty and worsening conditions. Our Freehold Chiropractor, Dr. Russell Brokstein, has been helping patients with a whiplash injury for the last 18 years. Our active treatment plans are created to get you quickly on the road to recovery.