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Whiplash Causes And Treatments
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Published: September 22, 2006
The medical field defines it as the injury resulting from “the sudden and forceful jerking of the head in one direction, followed by a rebound in the opposite direction.” Yet to those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from such an injury, “a pain in the neck” or even “ouch!” are more descriptive names for whiplash.
Most people associate whiplash injuries with automobile accidents. Though most cases of whiplash do occur as a result of traffic accidents, they also can stem from other forms of severe impact to the body, such as a rough fall or a particularly tough hit incurred from a contact sport.
Physiologically speaking, the neck has a particularly important job: to support the head. Yet for such a crucial function, the vertebrae of the neck and back are surprisingly fragile. If the head is suddenly jerked out of its natural range of motion, the neck can only accommodate to a fixed point. This is why whiplash occurs.
When the head is propelled backward and then rebounds forward (or vice versa, depending on the direction of the impact), the ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerve roots, disks and even bone structures in the neck become damaged.
Whiplash injuries fall into two categories: cervical and mandibular. Most have heard of the cervical, the whiplash affecting the neck. Yet few know of the latter and its close connection with cervical whiplash. Mandibular whiplash, a type of whiplash injuring the jaw, affects many who have suffered severe trauma to the neck. Yet many patients and even some doctors overlook the connection. Nevertheless, medical literature now supports a strong correlation.
As doctor Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S. puts it in his book Taking Control of TMJ, “in almost all traumatic whiplash injuries there is damage to the ligaments and muscles supporting the jaw joint.”
Treating Whiplash
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments for those who suffer whiplash. Pain medications are one of the most popular forms of treatment. Many doctors prescribe some combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and even antidepressants along with the use of a cervical collar.
Grandma's remedies may help too: good, old-fashioned hot and cold packs can be lifesavers when it comes to swelling and inflammation. Doctors used to wait until later in the recovery period before recommending patients exercise the neck muscles; evidence now shows exercise is more beneficial when started as little as two days after injury.
The good news: with any combination of these treatments, most patients quickly recover from whiplash.
Sources:
Sutton, Amy L., ed. Back and Neck Sourcebook. Detroit: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004.
Uppgaard, Robert O. Taking Control of TMJ: Your Total Wellness Program for Recovering from Temporomandibular Joint Pain, Whiplash, Fibromyalgia, and Related Disorders. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, 1999.
What're the treatments for whiplash? 2005. Health-cares.net. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://bone-muscle.health-cares.net/whiplash-t reatment.php>.
Most people associate whiplash injuries with automobile accidents. Though most cases of whiplash do occur as a result of traffic accidents, they also can stem from other forms of severe impact to the body, such as a rough fall or a particularly tough hit incurred from a contact sport.
Physiologically speaking, the neck has a particularly important job: to support the head. Yet for such a crucial function, the vertebrae of the neck and back are surprisingly fragile. If the head is suddenly jerked out of its natural range of motion, the neck can only accommodate to a fixed point. This is why whiplash occurs.
When the head is propelled backward and then rebounds forward (or vice versa, depending on the direction of the impact), the ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerve roots, disks and even bone structures in the neck become damaged.
Whiplash injuries fall into two categories: cervical and mandibular. Most have heard of the cervical, the whiplash affecting the neck. Yet few know of the latter and its close connection with cervical whiplash. Mandibular whiplash, a type of whiplash injuring the jaw, affects many who have suffered severe trauma to the neck. Yet many patients and even some doctors overlook the connection. Nevertheless, medical literature now supports a strong correlation.
As doctor Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S. puts it in his book Taking Control of TMJ, “in almost all traumatic whiplash injuries there is damage to the ligaments and muscles supporting the jaw joint.”
Treating Whiplash
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments for those who suffer whiplash. Pain medications are one of the most popular forms of treatment. Many doctors prescribe some combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and even antidepressants along with the use of a cervical collar.
Grandma's remedies may help too: good, old-fashioned hot and cold packs can be lifesavers when it comes to swelling and inflammation. Doctors used to wait until later in the recovery period before recommending patients exercise the neck muscles; evidence now shows exercise is more beneficial when started as little as two days after injury.
The good news: with any combination of these treatments, most patients quickly recover from whiplash.
Sources:
Sutton, Amy L., ed. Back and Neck Sourcebook. Detroit: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004.
Uppgaard, Robert O. Taking Control of TMJ: Your Total Wellness Program for Recovering from Temporomandibular Joint Pain, Whiplash, Fibromyalgia, and Related Disorders. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, 1999.
What're the treatments for whiplash? 2005. Health-cares.net. 15 Sept. 2006 <http://bone-muscle.health-cares.net/whiplash-t reatment.php>.
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