Whiplash Injury: Causes and Natural Treatments to Ease Your Pain Quickly

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden, forceful movement of the head, often occurring during auto accidents. The rapid back-and-forth motion observed in whiplash, similar to the cracking of a whip, can lead to damage in the muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues of the neck. There is an 83% chance a whiplash injury will occur in an auto accidentautoaccident collision.

Common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and shoulder discomfort. Sometimes, these symptoms may take hours or even days to manifest after getting the injury. The primary cause of whiplash is rear-end collisions in car accidents, although it can also result from sports injuries, falls, or any sudden impact to the head.

Prompt and proper whiplash injury treatment is crucial for recovery, with options ranging from chiropractic care and physical therapy to medication for pain relief. Chiropractic care, in particular, has proven to be an effective, holistic approach to treating whiplash, addressing both the immediate symptoms and long-term recovery. Chiropractic also offers the benefit of safety, especially in the long-term, in the management of whiplash injury, which is a benefit conventional medicine often fails to guarantee.

This article will consider more about whiplash, including its symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. 

What Is Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden movement of the head, often affecting the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues. The whiplash injury results from an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. In other words, it occurs when there is rapid and excessive hyperextension and hyperflexion of the neck. Let’s explain that better, but get ready for some little physics!

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can be neither destroyed nor created – only converted from one form to the other. There’s another relevant physics law. According to Newton’s first law of motion, an object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an external force. So, applying that to whiplash. When you are in a vehicle, your head and neck are at rest. However, when there is an accident, especially a rear-end collision, an external force is acting on the head and neck.

Again, according to energy conservation, the kinetic (moving) energy resulting from the collision is not lost but transferred to the objects in the vehicle, including the car’s passengers. Therefore, when there’s a car collision from behind, a force on the body causes the head and neck to snap back. It’s the same way the body and head move forward when the brakes are slammed in a fast-moving vehicle. The snapping back motion is hyperextension of the spine. 

Immediately after you hyperextend the neck, there is a corrective motion that sees the head move forward, known as hyperflexion. This rapid movement of the head from moving back to rapidly moving forward mimics the movement of a whip, and you guessed it—that’s the origin of the condition’s name. The rapid and excessive whip-like motion affects the soft tissues in the neck, leading to symptoms of whiplash. 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash Injury?

The common whiplash injury symptoms are pain and stiffness in the neck, typically accompanied with headache, back pain, and pain in the shoulder and arms. Interestingly, the symptoms of whiplash may not show immediately after the collision. For some, it may take between 12 hours and a few days for these symptoms to develop. 

Depending on their severity, the signs and symptoms of whiplash are classified into five grades – 0 to 4. They are outlined below.

Grade 0: No physical signs or injury. No complaints of pain or stiffness in the neck. 

Grade 1: No physical signs. Complaints are pain, stiffness, or tenderness of the neck.

Grade 2: Musculoskeletal signs, like a reduction in range of motion. Complaints of pain, stiffness, or tenderness of the neck.

Grade 3: Complaints of pain, stiffness, or tenderness of the neck. Neurological symptoms, like reduced ability to feel pain, tingling, prickling, burning sensations (as though there are pins and needles on the skin), reduced reflexes, and motor weakness (abnormal sensations in one or both sides of the body, dizziness, confusion, and muscle weakness).

Grade 4: Pain, stiffness, or tenderness may accompany a fracture or dislocation of the neck. A spinal cord injury may also be present.

What are the Causes of Whiplash?

The predominant cause of whiplash injury is rear-end auto collisions, accounting for around half of all whiplash cases. This is because these collisions cause energy transfer in an acceleration-deceleration mechanism to be applied from the rear of the vehicle to the neck. Aside from rear-end collisions, side-impact auto collisions are also common causes of the whiplash injury.

While auto accidents are the most typical causes of whiplash injuries, in theory, any event that can cause an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck can cause whiplash injury. This includes sports where there may be a lot of sudden force applied directly to the head, like boxing, football, hockey, and rugby.

Also, accidents like large objects falling on your head may also stimulate the whiplash motion associated with whiplash injury. If the motion is right, roller coasters and even seemingly minor slips and falls can cause whiplash injury. 

What Factors Increase the Risk of Whiplash Injury?

Factors like collision type, applied force, neck strength, and even the car seat type can increase the risk of whiplash injury. It is worth noting that everyone can have whiplash injury under the right (or wrong!) circumstances.

The specifics of these factors and how they can increase the risk of whiplash injury are outlined below. 

• The collision type, with rear-end collisions being the most common cause of whiplash.
• The force applied to the neck. Since force is a function of the mass and acceleration of a vehicle, per Newton’s second law of motion, bigger vehicles involved in the auto-accident can cause worse injuries. This also applies to faster-moving vehicles.
• Thinner and less rigid necks increase the risk of whiplash. Therefore, women are at a greater risk of having whiplash compared to men. In fact, studies show that women are twice as likely to have the injury in collisions than men.
• Cars with a low headrest and less elastic seats are more likely to have whiplash in an auto accident. This is because the head has a wider range of motion with these features.

Diagnosis of Whiplash

Diagnosing whiplash injury is not as straightforward as health practitioners will want. You may be surprised at that, considering the symptoms of the condition appear pretty straightforward. However, because many imaging tests do not reveal much about the condition itself, only experienced professionals can actually arrive at an accurate whiplash diagnosis. Here’s how it goes. 

Physical Examination

Physical examination involves a health practitioner examining the patient for objective and subjective information about the condition. These include checking for the signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as gathering relevant data about the patient. In many healthcare facilities, the first step is a physical examination of the patient by a health practitioner. 

Here, the examiner confirms that there is a history of whiplash motion. After this, the examiner considers the patient’s symptoms and when they developed. Neck pain after a car accident and headache are the two most common whiplash symptoms. 

The examiner may then assess the range of motion of the neck and shoulders. There is also a lot of interest in tenderness, spasms, and other problems in the upper or lower limbs. During the examination, the health practitioner will also be on the lookout for “red” and “yellow” flags. Basically, the red flags suggest serious spinal or skeletal injury, while the yellow flags indicate psychosocial conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress. 

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests provide detailed pictures of the body’s interior. Therefore, imaging tests are often standard practice in the diagnosis of health conditions, especially involving organs and musculoskeletal structures. However, imaging tests are not great for whiplash injury. 

In fact, there are no specific imaging, physiological, or psychological tests that can accurately and certainly diagnose whiplash. This is because, in large part, the whiplash tissue generally affects the soft tissue of the neck. However, health practitioners still order these tests to rule out other conditions. 

So, despite their lack of use in diagnosing whiplash, you may still need an x-ray to ensure you do not have a fracture. This applies to computerized tomography (CT) scans, too, as they fail to determine the cause of the whiplash injury. CT scans help rule out dislocations in the neck, though. 

One imaging test that actually does detect soft tissue damage is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Unfortunately, though, MRI scans often produce false positive results at the time of the initial presentation of symptoms. 

You may wonder then how health practitioners diagnose whiplash in light of the uncertainty with tests? This is where experience and expertise come into play. Experienced health practitioners can perfectly combine physical examination and assessment with the tests they perform to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. If you’re looking for such experience in Panama City, FL, and the surrounding area, Bay Clinic of Chiropractic is your perfect fit. 

Treatment of Whiplash

The approach to treating whiplash often depends on the nature of the symptoms, which determines whether the condition is acute or chronic. It is called acute whiplash if symptoms have been present for three months or less. On the other hand, when symptoms persist beyond three months, the condition is known as chronic whiplash, affecting up to 40% of all whiplash patients. Here are the different options for treating both acute and chronic whiplash.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is a holistic healthcare model that evaluates and naturally treats musculoskeletal disorders. Holistic healthcare involves the whole body and the different components that contribute to a person’s health, including the psychological, physical, and social components. Chiropractic care is an excellent treatment option for whiplash injury.

The first step in the treatment of whiplash by chiropractors is confirming that the condition the patient has is actually whiplash. This step often involves performing different tests to rule out certain conditions, as well as proper physical examination and assessment of the patient. Considering chiropractic is a branch of functional medicine that places a huge emphasis on testing and getting to the root of any health condition, it makes all the sense in the world that chiropractors don’t joke with a proper diagnosis. 

How Can Chiropractors Help with Whiplash Injury?

Chiropractors help with whiplash injury by properly diagnosing the condition, identifying possible root causes, and then devising a personalized treatment plan for the patient. Doing this ensures that whiplash injury treatment is geared towards healing the patient completely rather than just addressing the condition’s symptoms.

The first step in this chiropractic care is devising a specific treatment plan for the patient. This step is crucial and a staple of chiropractic care and functional medicine. Conditions affect people differently; you just need to find the right approach for everyone. 

Often, chiropractors start with strategies that reduce inflammation and pain in the area. This is typically done by stretching the neck, shoulder, and back muscles if necessary. Proper blood flow around the region will help reduce swelling and also loosen the joints in the area. Also, chiropractors may employ massage and other treatment techniques on the affected area to reduce stress on the muscle and relieve tension.

After this initial intervention, the next stage of chiropractic care is performing different specialized techniques that directly address the source of the pain. They are as follows:

• Spinal Manipulation: Spinal manipulation is a therapy that involves a high-velocity thrust to the affected area. When done in whiplash injury treatment, spinal manipulation involves a high-velocity thrust of the joints in the neck that are out of position. The gentle but swift motion in spinal manipulation stretches soft tissue and restores the spine’s position, allowing the nervous system to function optimally and restore balance to the affected area. 

Spinal manipulation is a hallmark of chiropractic care and is present in over 80% of all chiropractic treatment plans. Sometimes, chiropractors employ specific spinal manipulation non-thrusting techniques, like flexion-distraction techniques, to treat herniated or bulging discs. Spinal manipulation has been long associated with pain relief in spinal problems.

• Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Therapy: Known as IASTM, this technique can help treat soft tissue using specially designed instruments that provide appropriate mobilization to the affected area. Recall that soft tissue is what is commonly affected by whiplash injury. 

The Graston technique (a form of IASTM) can help improve the range of motion and reduce pain in whiplash injury patients. The chiropractor performs this technique by gently stroking the affected area using the hand-held instrument of choice. Instrument-assisted therapy does not involve thrusting motions and offers a different form of treatment than many hand techniques.

• Specific Trigger Point Therapy: Specific trigger point therapy involves chiropractors identifying specific points in the affected area that show abnormal motion and then applying a thrusting technique to that area. The application of this technique goes beyond restoring normal motion, as it can also be used to relieve muscle tension and offer pain relief. This is usually done by identifying specific tight points in the affected area and applying direct pressure using the fingers. 
• Interferential Therapy: Inferential therapy uses electric current to reduce swelling, lower inflammation, stimulate muscle, and relieve pain. Studies attest to the strong track record of this form of electrical therapy in reducing pain and stimulating deep muscles. This comes in handy, as well, when treating whiplash injuries in chiropractic facilities.

Aside from these specialized techniques, chiropractors also advise on relevant adjustments to diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to combat whiplash symptoms. Since chiropractors attempt to solve the problem from its root cause, this translates to an improvement of symptoms in the short term and also the long-term resolution of the condition. Research also shows that chiropractic treatment of chronic whiplash injury results in 93% improvement rates, which is encouraging compared to conventional treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy refers to a treatment approach that uses exercise, massages, and various treatments based on physical stimuli (cold, heat, electrical currents) to relieve pain and improve muscle function. We would imagine that the last thing many patients want to hear after injuring a part of their body is to exercise that specific body part. The same applies to whiplash injury.

However, studies have shown that it is better to mobilize the affected area and continue normal, pre-injury activities than just leaving their neck immobilized for weeks. Of course, care is needed regarding how much strain you can put on the affected neck because overdoing it can aggravate the injured area. This is why you will benefit from experienced health practitioners who can guide you through the right activities and exercise routines to hasten your improvement. 

Ice and Heat

Cold and heat are types of physical stimuli that can help manage musculoskeletal disorders. Applying ice to the affected area, especially in the first 12 to 24 hours after injury, can help reduce swelling in the affected area. The application of ice can continue for even a week after symptoms first develop. 

After the initial application of ice, applying gentle heat to the affected area can further stimulate the healing of the damaged tissues and relieve tension. However, regardless of whether you are applying cold or heat, never directly expose the affected area to ice or open flame. Use an ice pack or a slightly warm towel. 

Protective Care

Protective care is any treatment strategy that protects an injured area from further injury. It is not uncommon to see protective equipment like a soft cervical collar in the treatment of whiplash injury. This equipment often aims to restrict the cervical range of motion. In other words, it is to limit how much the neck actually moves. 

Recent research from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, shows that mobilization and normal activity are key for whiplash management, especially in the initial stage. However, if the damage to the spine or neck is extensive, health practitioners may request protective care. 

Conventional Treatment of Whiplash Injury: Medications

Analgesics are types of medications that relieve pain, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, and diclofenac. Depending on the level of pain, health practitioners may choose from over-the-counter analgesics (ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen) to stronger ones like opioids (morphine, codeine, methadone). 

The prescribing approach of analgesics generally follows the WHO analgesic ladder, which categorizes pain into mild, moderate, and severe. Based on this classification, prescribers start with non-opioid analgesics (ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen) for mild pain, weak opioids (hydrocodone, codeine, tramadol) for moderate pain, and strong opioids for severe pain (morphine, methadone, fentanyl).

Medications that reduce inflammation, including steroidal drugs, can also help ease pain and swelling. Other whiplash injury medications include muscle relaxants and nerve blocks. Depending on the particular case, the medications can be oral or topical. 

However, all medications – including analgesics for whiplash injury – have side effects. Therefore, medication use for the management of whiplash should be under the direction and guidance of your healthcare provider. Additionally, these medications are not and should not be viewed as a long-term treatment option for the management of whiplash injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Recover Fully From Whiplash?

Yes, you can recover fully from whiplash in a few days or weeks, depending on the severity of the condition. The worse the severity of symptoms, the longer the recovery process will take. Therefore, grades 1 and 2 of whiplash disorder take the shortest time to heal. 

Can Whiplash Injury Heal on Its Own?

While you can recover fully from whiplash injury, it is unlikely you do so if the condition is not treated at all. In fact, if you neglect the pain, the symptoms may persist for more than three months, and the condition becomes chronic. At this stage, even medical intervention may take several months or years to improve the condition significantly. 

Can You Use Only Pain Medications for Whiplash Injury?

You should not use pain medications as the sole treatment option for whiplash injury, as these medications only help in acute symptomatic relief. That is, they can help relieve the pain symptoms of the condition in the short term, but you still need proper treatment options, like chiropractic care and protective care, to ensure long-term treatment.

Do You Need Surgery for Whiplash Injury?

You normally will not need surgery for a whiplash injury. The indication for surgery is usually torn ligaments or fractures in the spine. Torn ligaments and spinal fractures are generally only observed in serious auto accidents and collisions.

What Is the Home Treatment for Whiplash Injury?

The home treatment for whiplash includes applying ice to the affected area during the first 12 to 24 hours to reduce swelling, followed by gentle heat to stimulate healing and relieve tension. Keeping the neck mobilized with gentle movements is also important. Protective equipment, such as a soft cervical collar, may be advised, but only under medical guidance to prevent further injury. 

Conclusion

Whiplash is an injury commonly caused by auto accidents. It causes pain and discomfort in the neck and surrounding areas. To manage symptoms effectively, it is important to seek proper diagnosis and treatment from healthcare professionals. Chiropractic care has proven to be an excellent treatment option for this injury. Also, physical therapy and other protective measures can play a role in the recovery process. Time is of the essence in managing this condition, and you should contact experienced health practitioners as soon as possible. 

Speaking of experience, you will struggle to find a chiropractor with more experience and expertise than Dr. Tony Salameh. He is the head chiropractor of the Bay Clinic of Chiropractic and has decades of experience managing different musculoskeletal conditions, including whiplashwhiplas injury. Contact the Bay Clinic at (850) 785-9372 or email info@thebaydoctor.com for personalized care. 

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