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My husband and myself have been attending The Osteopathic Health Centre for the last 6 months, with neck and shoulder problems, both these...
Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash injuries usually result in neck pain and stiffness as well as pain in other parts of the body, in particular, the low back and hips.
People suffering from whiplash injuries may benefit from an osteopathic assessment and treatment either soon after the accident or even months later if symptoms still persist.
While taking the case history, the osteopath will be particularly interested in details of the accident in order to understand the pattern of strain the patient was subjected to in the RTA. Information on how the patient was sitting in the car (for example, whether they were looking to one side) and where on the car the impact occurred provide necessary feedback for establishing which musculoskeletal structures have been injured.
The osteopath will also need to gather information about previous injuries and health problems which may have left their mark on the patient’s musculoskeletal framework and weakened its’ ability to cope with the forces involved in this particular accident. This individually tailored approach to diagnosis is then followed, in appropriate cases, by a treatment plan involving osteopathic treatment, exercises and advice on care.
The most common reason for a whiplash injury is a road traffic accident. For example, in a rear end collision the unsupported neck is subjected to an initial violent backwards bending (hyperextension) followed by a forced forwards movement (flexion). Other traumas, such as a fall, where the body is involved in a sudden jolting movement either from back to front or from side to
side (lateral whiplash) may also be responsible for similar musculoskeletal injuries.
These injuries usually affect the soft tissues of the body overstretching neck muscles and damaging the ligaments and joints of the cervical spine. Characteristically, pain and stiffness in the neck are worse 24 hours after the injury as the tissues become more inflamed.
In addition to a neck injury, the seatbelt can cause bruising and restriction across the front of the chest and even the base of the spine can become ‘compacted’ into the seat.
side (lateral whiplash) may also be responsible for similar musculoskeletal injuries.These injuries usually affect the soft tissues of the body overstretching neck muscles and damaging the ligaments and joints of the cervical spine. Characteristically, pain and stiffness in the neck are worse 24 hours after the injury as the tissues become more inflamed.
In addition to a neck injury, the seatbelt can cause bruising and restriction across the front of the chest and even the base of the spine can become ‘compacted’ into the seat.
People suffering from whiplash injuries may benefit from an osteopathic assessment and treatment either soon after the accident or even months later if symptoms still persist.While taking the case history, the osteopath will be particularly interested in details of the accident in order to understand the pattern of strain the patient was subjected to in the RTA. Information on how the patient was sitting in the car (for example, whether they were looking to one side) and where on the car the impact occurred provide necessary feedback for establishing which musculoskeletal structures have been injured.
The osteopath will also need to gather information about previous injuries and health problems which may have left their mark on the patient’s musculoskeletal framework and weakened its’ ability to cope with the forces involved in this particular accident. This individually tailored approach to diagnosis is then followed, in appropriate cases, by a treatment plan involving osteopathic treatment, exercises and advice on care.
Whiplash injuries are unpredictable in how long they can take to get better. Some will settle quite quickly within about 10 days while others will slowly settle over a period of six months or so. However as osteopaths, it is not unusual to have patients who say they have never been quite the same since a whiplash injury many years ago and wish that they had had more input to resolve the injury at the time.