- Whiplash is the common term for a very real injury; hyperflexion/hyperextension injury or sometimes called cervical acceleration/deceleration trauma.
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- Whiplash usually happens in less than 1/3 of a second.
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- The muscles, tendons and ligaments that are responsible for normal structure and function are strained, stretch beyond their normal limits (hypermobile) and in some cases torn (microtears of the muscle fibers).
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- Misaligned and injured cervical spines will remain in this injured state until treated.
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- When the healing process of the soft tissues starts, and the problem has not been treated, a host of chronic health problems such as muscle trigger points, spasms, scar tissue formation, hypermobility and laxity of ligaments, arthritis, bone spurs and overall atrophy of the joints will occur over time.
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- If the head is rotated left or right, flexed forward or extended backwards the injury to the spine is worse. Therefore looking in the rear view mirror when you hear "the screeching of breaks or skidding of tires", diminishes your spine's normal range of motion and the injury to the spine is worse.
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- Besides injury to the neck, injury to the mid back, low back, shoulders, hips and legs is common.
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- Up to 90% of auto accidents are rear end collisions. Therefore most people don't know the accident is about to happen, are not braced for the impact and the injuries are worse.
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- Many accidents also cause injury to the TMJ (jaw) which can result in a popping, clicking or grinding of the joint; also TMJ injuries can cause ongoing headache symptoms and many times are overlooked.
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- Many factors enter into the extent of injury: were vehicles of the same size or was the striking vehicle larger/heavier, was the struck vehicle moving or stopped, was the road condition wet, dry or iced over; was it a side impact, a direct rear end collision or an impact at the corner of the vehicle. Were headrests used, were they set at proper height.
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- If airbags were deployed, although they are designed to save lives, the impact of an airbag can socket the spine/skull into violent hyperextension.
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- Even if an accident occurred at a lower rate of speed and there was minimal amount of damage to the vehicle, injury may very well have occurred. Many bumpers in late model cars can withstand 5 or 10 mph collisions and contract/expand showing very little outwardly noticeable damage. Dollar amount of damage to a vehicle is a very poor way to guage if there was sufficient force to cause an injury to an occupant of the vehicle.
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- Impacts as low as 5 or 6 mph can lead to injuries.
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- Children, teenagers, many women and small adults are more suseptable to injuries than larger individuals. Remember, children are resiliant, even though they don't have ongoing complaints of pain, they should be examined and in most cases X-rayed.
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- Emergency rooms are exactly what the term says...they are there for emergencies (life threatening concerns) follow-up care with a specialist in traumatic injuries should be a priority.
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- If the E.R. doctor said the films/X-rays were negative or normal, that Does Not mean that the vertebrea in the spine aren't misaligned and injured (subluxation). A Chiropractic physician should be consulted where appropriate X-ray studies will be reviewed. Remember, emergency rooms deal with emergencies.
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- It's never too late to start treatment for injured areas. Many people who have been living with pain from accidents that occurred years ago are finding relief with Chiropractic massage and physical therapies. Of course, the sooner after an injury your Chiropractor sees you, the better your chances for a quick and full recovery.
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- We've helped tens of thousands of patients over the years, we'd like to help you too.
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