Car Accidents and whiplash usually go hand-in-hand, just as sports collisions go with concussions. Recent research suggests that patients should be screened for both conditions following either type of incident.
A study was done where researchers measured the force is applied on the brain both as it impacted the head rest during a rear end car crash and when struck from the back while wearing a football helmet. There was similar angular velocity between both crashes. This suggests that both types of collision could result in brain injury.
A 2015 study was done that showed athletes who have stronger deep neck flexor muscles experienced faster recoveries after concussions. Prior research has also shown that stronger neck muscles could reduce the severity of whiplash injury to the neck during a car crash. This would mean that reduced injury to the cervical spine and surrounding tissues during egg collision may lessen the severity of a concussion.
The journal of orthopedic sports and physical therapy published eight studies in 2019 where researchers reported that the overlap and symptoms between concussion and whiplash are very similar. What’s different is the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are implemented separately. This potentially leads to misdiagnosis and a delay in appropriate management, as well as increased risk for a poor outcome. Proper assessment and management should incorporate the principal set forth in both concussion and whiplash guidelines.
All of these suggestions are backed up by a series of case studies of whiplash injured patients with symptoms that could coexist with post concussion syndrome. The patient’s improved function following a course of treatment which derived from guidelines for managing both concussion and whiplash syndrome.
Faced a D from 2015 by authors affiliated with Canadian memorial chiropractic college found that post concussive syndrome patients experienced good outcomes when they received treatment similar to those who suffer from whiplash disorder.
So after looking at all of these findings, we can conclude that whiplash and concussion usually cooccur. This means that the patient should be screamed for both regardless of how the injury occurred. Treatment guidelines show that nonsurgical conservative treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic like ourselves is one of the best options for these types of injuries.
If you’ve been in an accident, even if a minor one, come in and see us. We can help treat your whiplash and ensure your pain is kept to a minimum.
