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Whiplash
Patrick Murphy and The Courtyard Clinic Osteopathic Team
This month we are going to look at the increasingly
contentious and costly subject of Whiplash. A huge
industry has developed around it, particularly in
certain quarters of the medical and legal professions
where diagnosis and the encouragement to pursue
compensation are often very questionable.
Claims for whiplash injuries have reached epidemic
proportions. A recent parliamentary committee
highlighted a 70% rise in motor insurance injury
claims in the last six years. This is in spite of a 23%
drop in the number of casualties caused by road
accidents. Whiplash, in turn, accounted for 70% of
all these injury claims (in France it’s only 5%). This
amounts to roughly 554,000 whiplash claims in
2010-11. In 2001 this was estimated to cost around
£1,000,000,000, in 2010-2011 this figure has doubled.
What is whiplash? Whiplash is a nonmedical term
used to describe neck pain following an injury to the
soft tissues of your neck (specifically ligaments, joints,
muscles and tendons). It is caused by a sudden force
applied to the body that causes movement beyond
the neck’s normal range of motion.
Whiplash can occur in any incident that causes as
sudden jerk to the neck, particularly motor vehicle
accidents, sporting activities and accidental falls.
The term whiplash was first used in 1928, and
had previously been described as “Railway Spine”
as most of the occurrences of this injury before
this date were in train accidents. Despite the
replacement of the term “Whiplash” by other terms
such as acceleration flexion-extension neck injury
and cervical hyperextension injury, it continues to
be used as a simple way to describe this condition.
Your doctor may use more specific terms of cervical
sprain, strain or hyperextension injury. Fortunately,
Whiplash is typically not a life threatening injury, but
it can lead to a prolonged period of partial disability.
osteopathy Therapeutic massage
Tel: 01621 842 750
2 & 4 Kings Head Centre, Maldon, Essex CM9 5PN
Sports injuries
Sports Massage
registered
osteopaths
The Courtyard Clinic was established in 2000 and over the past 10 years has successfully treated
thousands of patients with a range of conditions. Our Male and Female
practitioners are registered with the General Osteopathic Council and
undergo continuous training in order to maintain standards and stay at the
forefront of the profession.
We are located in the heart of Maldon adjacent to the White Horse car park
and our team aim to provide the best possible care in pleasant surroundings.
If you wish to discuss an injury or treatment, please contact us.
What causes Whiplash? Whiplash is most
commonly caused by a motor vehicle accident in
which the car the person is riding in is stationary,
and is struck by a vehicle from behind. It is
commonly thought the rear impact causes the
neck to be forced into hyperextension (backward
bending) as the seat pushes the person’s body
forward, the head and neck then recoil and are
thrown into a hyperflexed (forward bent) position.
Studies using high-speed cameras and crash-test
dummies have determined that the lower cervical
vertebrae are forced into a position of hyperextension
compressing the joints, while the upper cervical
vertebrae are in a hyperflexed position causing the
joints to be forced open, straining the tissue. It is
thought that this motion damages the soft tissues
that hold the vertebrae together.
Whiplash Symptoms: The symptoms of Whiplash
can vary from a mild achy stiffness that resolves
within a few days to long term debilitating pain.
Some of the common symptoms experienced with
Whiplash are as follows.
• Headaches/Migraines,
• Neck pain and stiffness,
• Dizziness,
• Nausea & Vomiting,
• Problems thinking
or remembering,
• Numbness & tingling
(arms, face & shoulders),
• Jaw pain,
• Diffuse back pain,
• Visual Disturbances.
How is it treated? Often the initial treatment for
whiplash has been a soft cervical collar. The goal
of the collar is to reduce the range of motion of the
neck to prevent any additional injuries. This should
only be a short term precaution as recent studies
have shown that prolonged immobilization slows the
healing process.
The restriction of motion causes increased pain
and stiffness. Immobilization also causes muscle
wasting and reduced blood flow to the damaged
muscles.
In the first instance the goal should be to reduce
inflammation and pain by applying a cold compress.
As soon as symptoms will allow gradually
encourage some gentle movement. Stretching,
mobilisation and massage techniques used by
Osteopaths promote healing and recovery.
Recovery times vary from a few days to several
months depending on the severity of the injury
and your own medical history. Your Osteopath will
constantly monitor progress and refer on for further
scans and tests if they become necessary.
Whiplash is Preventable! When adjusted properly,
head restraints can be very effective in preventing
whiplash injuries. Make
sure that when buying
that you select a vehicle
with an appropriate head
rest, and ensure that
every time you get into
a vehicle, as a driver
or passenger, that you
adjust the headrest properly. Adjust the headrest so
that the top middle part of the headrest is level with
the height of your eyes.
To find out how Osteopathy can help you,
contact The Courtyard Clinic on 01621 842750 or
visit our website www.maldonosteopath.co.uk
Cranial osteopathy
www.maldonosteopath.co.uk
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