950 N. Courtenay Pkwy. Suite 1, Merritt Island, FL 32953 (behind McDonald's) 321-453-2844 Have you been in a car accident? It is estimated that 45% of those injured by whiplash still suffer from symptoms 2 years later and the number of cases reported each year continues to grow at an alarming rate! First reported in 1928, by the 1940's as the automobile came into fairly wide use, whiplash cases began to be frequently reported. By 1971 the National Safety Council estimated that in 1971 alone there were 3.8 million rear end collisions resulting in 1 million reported injuries. Surprisingly, 73% of these injuries occurred in minor crashes where neither car required towing according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But minor as these crashes are 45% of those with whiplash injuries still suffered with symptoms 2 years after their claim was settled. New injuries together with those suffering residual symptoms from previous years are estimated to be more than 1% of the entire population of the U.S. (that's roughly 2.4 million!) Considering that whiplash has been observed for years and the staggering numbers involved, one might think the injury would be well understood by now and easy to document. Unfortunately a typical whiplash injury (where no bones are broken) doesn't show up in normal x-rays. Make no mistake, in more severe crashes, bones do break, the spinal cord can be completely severed, or the victim may be killed, and these severe injuries are clearly visible on x-rays. But where there is only soft tissues, like muscles, ligaments, nerve fibers, joint membranes, or the discs between the vertebrae are injured it has been far more difficult to provide objective proof of the injury. Newly developed CAT Scans and Magnetic Imaging devices have changed this and now show this sort of injury. In years past however, this lack of evidence led to disbelief. Considering how long symptoms often lasted, yet with no objective evidence of injury, insurance companies began to question if the patient wasn't exaggerating or fabricating symptoms in order to gain a larger insurance settlement. Literally adding insult to injury the poor patient suffering all too real pain was considered to be a fraud and a liar, or at best, a hypochondriac. Of course if this had been true we would have expected the "symptoms" to miraculously clear up after the case was settled. But a whopping 45% still suffered symptoms 2 years after settlement. It soon became clear that, difficult as it was to objectively document, a basic group of symptoms or complaints emerged that were relatively consistent, typical and predictable. While many things affect the severity of the injury the majority of accidents don't cause broken bones and so long as the head doesn't strike the windshield, the typical symptoms are as follows: 62% to 98% complain of neck pain usually starting from two hours up to two days after the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears of excessive movement of joints from ligament damage. The muscles tighten up in an effort to splint up and support the head, limiting the excessive movement. Note that while muscle relaxants can relieve some of the discomfort of these muscle spasms, using muscle relaxants without wearing a support collar to brace and hold the head in place can undermine this natural protection from the muscles and cause further injury. 66% to 70% complain of headache, on and off again or constant, in one spot or more general. These headaches like the neck pain are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to keep the head stable and, like tension headaches, they are often felt behind the eyes. Shoulder pain, often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, may also be the result of tensed muscles. Muscle tears are often described as burning pain. Sometimes the sensation is a prickling or tingling. When there is more severe damage to the discs between the vertebrae the pain is sharp and related immediately to certain movements. Holding the arm up with the hand over the head sometimes gives temporary relief. Other typical symptoms are listed in the chart below. There are no doubt other symptoms not listed, but these are the most common for whiplash. An additional set of symptoms (with some overlaps) is reported when a head injury or concussion from hitting the windshield occurs, even if mild enough that the victim never looses consciousness. They are listed in the bottom chart below.

SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSIVE HEAD INJURIES

HEADACHE NECK PAIN INSOMNIA DIZZINESS DEPRESSION OR MOOD SWINGS

ANXIETY IRRITABILITY MEMORY LOSS DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING INTOLERENCE TO ALCOHOL

JUST HOW DOES WHIPLASH HAPPEN?

In a rear end collision the victim's car is first pushed or accelerated forward and then, because their foot is on the brake, or their car hits the next car in front, their car is quickly slowed down or decelerated. As the car accelerates forward, it pushes the body forward but the head stays behind momentarily rocking up and back until some of the muscles and ligaments of the neck are stretched or torn. If the headrest is positioned properly behind the head some of this excess movement can be prevented. Too often however the injury occurs before the head bounces off of the headrest. The muscles in a reflex reaction to the backward motion of the head, try to jerk the head forward again. This overcompensates because the head bounces forward off the headrest and the car begins to rapidly decelerate about the same time. This rocks the head forward and down even more violently than the initial injury, stretching or tearing more muscles and ligaments. If the victim isn't well restrained by a seat belt, and particularly if their car hits the next car in front, the head can strike the steering wheel or the windshield adding a head injury or concussion to any neck injuries.
The severity of the injuries depends on numerous things. The biggest variable is the impact. This depends on the weight and the speed of the striking vehicle as compared to the struck vehicle. When both are similar size vehicles, even an 8 mile per hour collision produces two times the force of gravity or a 2-G acceleration of the vehicle and a 5-G acceleration to the head. This magnification of the force gives rise to the name whiplash.
The position of the headrest greatly affects the severity of the injury. It can even make the injury worse if too low and, even at the right height, it must be close enough to catch the head in time (about 2 inches). The seat reclined too far will enlarge this distance as will the poor posture of leaning slightly forward (typical of the elderly or people watching for the light to turn).
The position of the victim's head can dramatically affect the injury. When the head is turned to the side, for instance, it can only rock up about half as far as when looking straight ahead. All the forces concentrate on one side of the spine and cause more severe injuries.
Many other things affect the severity of the injuries. As the body ages it gets less flexible, range of motion decreases, and muscles get weaker. All these make injuries more severe to older people. Women seem to be injured more seriously than men and of course some people are more prone to injury because of pre-existing conditions like arthritis.
Whiplash injuries are not solely the result of car crashes. They have been reported as a result of various sports from surfing to football. Any substantial blow to the back can cause whiplash or other neck injury and warrants a thorough chiropractic check up.

TREATMENT FOR WHIPLASH INJURIES

Whiplash injuries can be so slight you don't even know you are injured at first, or extremely severe with multiple broken bones. Even if you feel normal after an accident, with no symptoms, you should be thoroughly examined because symptoms can be delayed for days and in some cases symptoms may not surface for years. An injured joint when not treated can slowly degenerate only to cause symptoms 5 years later. This delayed degeneration makes it very important to get examined after any accident.
While x-rays often are the first step in the examination many new tests are available to show injuries to soft tissues that don't generally show up on x-rays. These include CAT Scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), andVideo-floroscopy. In complex cases these new tests can provide the objective evidence the insurance companies need to settle claims as well as the evidence needed to guide beneficial treatment program. Historically, for soft tissue injuries medical doctors have emphasized rest, immobilization, and medication to relieve pain while chiropractic doctors have emphasized active therapy to restore full function as soon as possible.
Chiropractors and M.D.'s may both recommend immobilization for a few days with periodic ice application. But thereafter the standard medical treatment was continued rest and immobilization with a soft cervical collar. Chiropractic care in contrast begins with active assisted exercises progressing to manipulation and progressing to active resisted exercises on specific machine of the injured area.
Medical experts are beginning to recognize active care as the treatment of choice. In 1986, Mealy, an M.D. and his colleagues; published a study in the British Medical Journal of patients with soft tissue whiplash injuries. One group was given standard treatment (rest and immobilization) while the second group received ice and immobilization for 24 hours followed by manipulative techniques and a regimen of daily exercises. At both 4 weeks and 8 weeks the group was given active treatment showed significantly increased motion in the injured area as well as significantly less pain as compared to the group receiving standard treatment. They concluded that early active care was to be preferred.
Another M.D., Ameis, who is a Canadian rehabilitation specialist, in 1986 also published an article, which warns against extended rest and dependency on drugs. He recommends early physical measures and goes so far as to say that "passive management of whiplash injury may ultimately prove not to have been benign."
So if you have experienced a recent accident, by all means contact our office where we specialize in spinal injuries with time proven methods of care for whiplash.

TOP 10 SAFE DRIVING TIPS

(Tip #1.)
Avoid Rear-end Collisions by maintaining safe driving distances. Keep at least two seconds following distance between you and any vehicle in front of you. Watch the vehicle ahead pass some fixed point and count off the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot.

(Tip #2.)
Avoid Rear-end Collisions by using your turn signals (intention signals), signaling well in advance for turns, stops and lane changes. Slow down GRADUALLY and avoid sudden actions.

(Tip #3.)
If you Drink, DON"T DRIVE. Even one drink of alcohol can affect your driving. It takes about one hour for your body to get rid of each drink. With two or more drinks, you are impaired and could be arrested!!

(Tip #4.)
Use Extra Caution At Intersections. More accidents occur at intersections then any other place. Look both ways and be ready to brake or stop. Do not pass or change lanes 50 feet before the intersection and in the intersection.

(Tip #5.)
Keep To The Right Slower traffic must keep to the right and yield the right of way to faster traveling vehicles. This avoids road rage and having vehicles pass you on the right, possibly being in your "blind spot".

(Tip #6.)
Come To A Complete Stop At Intersections Before Making A Right Turn. Look both ways, and then look again. Stop BEHIND the stop bar. Watch out for pedestrians.

(Tip #7.)
Drive With The Flow Of The Traffic (within the speed limit). Driving too slowly can be as dangerous as driving too fast.

(Tip #8.)
Avoid Distractions such as cell phones, cigarette smoking, changing tapes/CD's, sight seeing, and distractions by children. Keep your eyes on your driving. Even a 1second distraction can cost you 88 feet of traveling distance before you can even begin to react at 60 miles per hour.

(Tip #9.)
Don't overdrive your headlights at night-time. Travel only as fast as you can safely stop with-in your "visibility range" which can vary due to rain, moisture, fog and haze.

(Tip #10.)
Don't be A Victim of Running a Red Light (Either you or someone else running the light) Yellow means stop if you can BEFORE the intersection at the stop line. BEFORE proceeding from a previous red light look both ways to make sure traffic has stopped in both directions.

Disclaimer: The medical information and procedures contained in this web site are not intended as a substitute for consulting your physician. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness using the information in this site should come under the direction of your treating physician. Because there is always some risk involved, our office is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions or procedures in this site.
All matters regarding your health should be supervised by your doctor.