Have you ever heard of whiplash injuries? These are often caused by car accidents, even low speed ones. And let me tell you, they are no joke.
One study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that even a collision at just 2.5 mph can cause significant soft tissue damage to the neck. That’s right, just 2.5 mph! The study also found that symptoms of whiplash can take up to 24 hours to appear.
Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine you’re driving your car, obeying all traffic laws, when suddenly another car rear-ends you. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, you might even feel fine. But over the next day or so, you start to feel a sharp pain in your neck and shoulders, and you’re having trouble moving your head.
This is what’s known as a whiplash injury. When you’re hit from behind, your head and neck are forced forward and then quickly whipped back, causing damage to the ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues in your neck.
And let me tell you, the pain and discomfort from a whiplash injury can be debilitating. It can affect your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy your day-to-day life.
But there’s good news! Chiropractic care has been shown to be an effective treatment for whiplash injuries. In fact, another study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients who received chiropractic care for their whiplash injuries reported significant improvements in pain and range of motion.
So if you’ve been in a car accident, even a low speed one, and you’re experiencing neck pain or other symptoms of whiplash, don’t wait to seek treatment. Chiropractic care can help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
Take care of yourself and stay safe on the roads.
Sincerely,
James D. Parsons DC
The study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine that found even a collision at just 2.5 mph can cause significant soft tissue damage to the neck is: Freeman MD, Croft AC, Rossignol AM, Weaver DS, Reiser M. A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999 Feb 1;24(3):86-96.
The study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that found chiropractic care to be an effective treatment for whiplash injuries is: Khan S, Cook J, Gargan M, Bannister G. A symptomatic classification of whiplash injury and the implications for treatment. J Orthop Med. 1999;21(1):22-25.