Whiplash Advice

Have you ever suffered from whiplash?

You're not alone: Of the six million injuries per year due to motor vehicle crashes, about three mil­lion people suffer from whiplash-type injuries.  Of those 500,000 - 900,000 will develop chronic pain.

 "We have always known that chiropractors are effec­tive with whiplash, but there were lots of theories as to why,"" explains Dr. Dan Murphy, a chiropractor who teaches on the subject of whiplash throughout the world.. "Now, it appears that by the very nature of what we do, chiropractors are most effectively treating the tissues injured during an accident," says Dr. Murphy.

According to two new studies.- one in the journal Injury and another in the Journal of Orthopedic Medicine - people who failed under medical management were referred to chiropractors for treatment of chronic whiplash pain. "In both studies, the results were phenomenal, 'and one of the conclusions is that chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment for chronic whiplash." says Dr. Murphy.

 Research soon to be published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain shows that there are risk factors for acute whiplash injury and that chronic pain can occur even after the most minor of accidents.  "We are finding that risk factors for acute injury, such as having the head rotated, being out of position in the vehicle, lack of preparation for the crash and being struck from the rear, are present not only for initial injury, but also for chronic injury," says Dr. Michael Freeman, a chiropractor and PhD clinical assistant professor of epi­demiology at Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine.

"If you are injured, whether the vehicle sustains no major damage or is totaled, there’s a one-in-three chance you will have chronic pain," says Dr. Freeman.

According to Dr. Arthur Croft:, a chiropractor and whiplash researcher, techno­logical improvements are being perfected in an effort to prevent whiplash.  Dr. Croft explains that seat and head restraint improvements have already been made in. models of automobiles designed by Saab and Volvo.

Sophisticated forward- and rear-looking systems are also being developed to gauge the distance between cars.  A computer chip on board will contain a pre­ programmed set of instructions to allow calculation of impending crash conditions.

 So, how many crashes can actually be avoided? Perhaps only 10 percent, according to Dr. Croft.  "But what we've found in our whiplash studies is that the people that have the worst outcomes are the ones who were caught absolutely unaware," says Dr. Croft.  "So we believe that even just a few dozen milliseconds of warning that allow people to brace to some extent are worthwhile.”            .

 The ACA and Dr. Croft suggest the following ways to minimize pain and suffering, before, during and after a whiplash accident. 

• Shop for a safer car.  Before you buy your next car, compare vehicle structural design, vehicle size and weight, and restraint systems - belts, airbags, head restraints and crash avoidance features.  Consider mass and crash-worthiness.  Check the Institute for Highway Safety rating for the safest sea_, head restraints, etc. Small cars put you at greater risk.
• Keep head restraints in the UP position.  Eighty per­cent of cars have the head restraint adjusted in the low position.  Because head restraints are designed to fit the average man, it can be difficult for taller and shorter people to get a good fit.  Some add-on head restraints are available, but check first for safety approval' and easy installation.
• Prepare for a crash.  Crashes happen at lightning-fast speeds, and time is crucial.  But if you have time to pre­pare, follow these tips:

·         Put your head and your neck all the way back so that you're in contact with the seat back and the properly adjusted head restraints.

·         Straight-arm the steering wheel and get a good grip

·         Put your foot on the brake as hard as you can (assuming you are stopped, of course). Look straight     ahead, not in the rearview mirror.  Don't have your head turned at all.

·         Put your neck back slightly so your eyes are look­ing level - up at about the top of the windshield

·         Scrunch your shoulders up toward your ears and then brace.

• Seek treatment immediately.  See a chiropractor immediately.  Missing the important two-week window of opportunity increases the likelihood of a chronic condition.
• Do what the doctor ordered.  Exercises, ice, nutri­tion, soft collars for the first few days, adjusted work station, deep tissue work in the early stages-whatever the doctor prescribes-are worthwhile treatments in preventing whiplash injuries from becoming chronic.  The treatments offered by a chiropractor are not dan­gerous or painful and are fairly inexpensive.
• Think ergonomically.  Your daily tasks, sleep posi­tions and work conditions are everyday factors that can hasten healing. If typing at a computer, move the copy toward the middle and the monitor toward the right to even things out.  Consider an office desk chair with armrests.  Without armrests, the weight of the arms is suspended from the shoulders, which tends to pull against the muscles of the upper back, causing strain on the neck.

 Chiropractic Care Can Help