Have You Experienced Whiplash?

Chiropractic care offers numerous benefits for whiplash and car accident injuries, including pain relief, mobility restoration, strength and function enhancement, and minimizing long term effects. At Connected Chiropractic, we collaborate with all auto insurance companies ensuring seamless access to quality care after a car accident.

It’s estimated that as many as one million Americans experience a whiplash injury each year with many occurring as the result of rear-end collisions. While many whiplash patients do recover, a large percentage will experience ongoing symptoms that can persist for years or even lead to some degree of permanent disability. This is partly the result of the unique series of events that occur when the head and neck are accelerated and decelerated at speeds and forces too fast and great to protect against. Let’s take a look at the phases of motion that take place during a whiplash event.

Pre-Collision: Prior to impact, the occupant sits in a vehicle with their mid back (thoracic spine) resting on the seat back and the head upright with a properly positioned head rest just behind it. The neck (cervical spine) assumes its normal physiologic “C” shape, when viewed from the side of the body.
Retraction Phase: Initially, upon impact, the seat back is rapidly pushed forward into the thoracic spine of the occupant as the vehicle accelerates forward. Based on the incline of the seat back and its springiness, the normal thoracic spinal curvature flattens and ramps up the seat back creating axial compression and lower cervical (neck) flexion as the weight of the head (about twelve pounds) translates backward relative to the torso producing an “S” shaped cervical spine. This uncontrolled motion occurs within a very short timeframe of 0.05–0.20 seconds—too quick for the muscles to contract in a protective fashion. This motion can injure the cervical joints as well as the ligaments and disks in the front of the spine.

Extension Phase: As the thoracic spine continues forward, the cranium, tethered by the cervical spine, starts to rotate and the spine moves into full extension. The “S” shape of the retraction phase gives way to an exaggerated physiological extension “C” curve as the head nears the head-restraint. Here, shear forces across the cervical segments increase tension and compression as the cervical spine reaches the “C” curve position. The movement of the head backward should be stopped by the head rest, but if the seat back is too far reclined or the head rest is too low, the head can continue to move backward. At this point, the muscles supporting the head and neck should begin contracting in response to the collision.

Rebound Phase: Here, the over-stretched muscles contract, moving the head and neck forward into flexion. The thoracic spine’s forward motion is often limited by the seat belt locking, leading to further cervical flexion and rotation (due the angled chest restraint). During this phase, more contractions of the muscles occur, and this is thought to be the mechanism for posterior neck muscle injury during rear-end crashes. The greatest injury potential is thought to arise during this phase—especially when the head restraint is improperly positioned (too far from the head)
Whiplash can cause a variety of problems, including neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. In some cases, whiplash can even lead to long-term health issues. If you have been injured in an accident and are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should contact our office right away

Chiropractors specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries to the spine and musculoskeletal system, which are often the most common injuries after accidents. Whether it’s whiplash from a car crash or a herniated disc from a fall, chiropractic adjustments can help restore normal function to the affected area, reducing pain and inflammation.

• Non-Invasive Treatment: Chiropractic care is non-invasive, meaning there’s no need for surgery or medication. This is particularly appealing for patients seeking a natural path to recovery.
• Addressing the Root Cause: Chiropractors focus on identifying and treating the root cause of pain rather than masking symptoms with medication.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed medical reports provided by chiropractors can serve as essential documentation in personal injury claims, supporting patients in their legal proceedings.
• Increased Mobility: Restoring proper spinal alignment improves your range of motion, helping you get back to your daily activities.

How can Chiropractic Care Provide Relief?

Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the brain and nervous system). It also focuses on how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. It is founded upon the principle that the body’s innate healing power is affected by and integrated through the nervous system.

Based on these principles, chiropractic care can provide relief in many ways if you are experiencing pain and injury symptoms.

• Chiropractic adjustments re-align the spine and encourage the nerve pathways to improve. Adjustments start to correct the misfiring that occurs in the neurons causing a heightened sensitivity to pain. Additionally, adjustments help improve sleep patterns. A more restful sleep helps the healing process. Adjustments also encourage better cognitive function. By realigning the Spine, Connected Chiropractic’s board-certified Chiropractor is reducing interference within the brain. Decreasing inflammation and swelling will help to improve range of motion and flexibility. You will notice an increase in tone and strength in the affected area.
• StemWave Treatment is a regenerative medical technique that utilizes harmless, yet powerful acoustic waves to activate your body’s natural healing mechanisms. This innovative technology is designed to help patients with musculoskeletal conditions by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation and healing your body naturally.
• Massage Therapy is another tool that we utilize in the office to help with arthritis. It reduces muscle tension, stiffness in the body, and joint pain. It also helps regulate digestion and encourages sleep.
• Electrotherapy (electric muscle stimulation) is also used in our office to help reduce/relieve pain and inflammation sometimes experienced with sports injuries.
• Exercise Therapy and Education is also a benefit our office provides. The use of light aerobic exercise can help you avoid muscle stiffness and joint pain when properly incorporated into your daily routine. Good stretches are also recommended! Diet is reviewed and suggestions are made to improve your diet thereby improving the building blocks for healing. Some modifications in daily activities may also benefit those who suffer from sports injuries. We offer a wide range of activities that can help keep joints loose and pain free.
• Supplements could also be used to help ease systems. A variety can be used to improve sleep, help with depression, and decrease inflammation. Our skilled chiropractor can make recommendations on what supplements and vitamins can work best for you.
• Decompression can sometimes be helpful to relieve pain and realign the muscles joints of the body and decrease inflammation. Decompression therapy of the spine is just exactly as it implies. More specifically, this therapy decompresses the intervertebral discs of the spine while also gently stretching the muscles that run along the spine. This stretching, or spinal traction, improves spinal alignment (posture) and releases tension and tightness from the muscles and connective tissues that can irritate the nerves, which improves nerve function and mobility, and alleviates pain, numbness, and tingling.

Our goal at Connected Chiropractic is to use multiple methods to help restore and preserve your optimal health. We will make a care plan that fits your individual needs, and pairs well with what is already working, to improve your daily life.

Do not live with pain another day. Call our office to get started on your restorative path to optimal health, or schedule online today.

Clinic Hours:

Monday: 9am-11am / 3pm – 6pm
Tuesday: 9am-11am / 3pm – 6pm
Wednesday: 9am-11am / 3pm – 6pm
Thursday: 9am-11am / 3pm – 6pm
Friday/Saturday/Sunday: CLOSED

What Our Patients Are Saying...