Whiplash Treatment

After A Car Accident

Video On The Effects Of Whiplash And How Injuries Occur

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Whiplash Injury

You have been injured in a car accident

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Whether you experienced pain right after the accident or developed symptoms in the days or weeks following, seek care as soon as possible. While medications may be needed to alleviate your symptoms they will not fully address your injuries – you need to get treatment for your injured spine, muscles and possible nerve and ligament damage.

“60% of all injured victims in a car accident had spinal joint trauma the most common joints affected were C5-C6 and C2-C3 these facet joints cause neck pain, shoulder pain as well as mid back pain and headaches”

Lord SM, Barnsley L, Wallis BJ, Bogduk N. Chronic cervical zygapophysial joint pain after whiplash: Spine 1996;21(15):1737-1745

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Whiplash Injury diagram

0 milliseconds

At the moment of impact, the car seat just begins to move and the occupant has not yet been accelerated forward.

Whiplash Injury diagram

At 50 milliseconds

As the car seatback pushes the torso forward, the spine moves forward, resulting in a straightening of the thoracic and cervical spine (upper back and neck).

Whiplash Injury diagram

At 75 milliseconds

At this point in the collision, the car seat is rapidly pushing the occupant’s torso forward, while the head remains stationary due to inertia. This rapid bending in just a few joints in the lower neck can result in ligament damage in the lower cervical spine.

Whiplash Injury diagram

Damage happens between 50-70 milliseconds

This difference in motion between the neck and torso results in an S-shaped curve, where nearly all of the bending in the cervical spine takes place in the lower cervical spine. This deformation of the spine is unnatural and causes shearing of the joints.

Whiplash Injury diagram

At 150 milliseconds

The torso has pulled so far forward on the lower neck that the head is forced backwards over the head restraint. Depending on the severity of the collision, the ligaments in the front portion of the spine can be injured during this phase of the collision.

Whiplash Injury diagram

At 200 milliseconds

Finally, the head and torso are thrown forward by the force of the car seat. The back muscles of the neck and ligaments supporting spine are overstretched and may tear causing additional injury.

All of the above has happened faster than the blink of an eye!