Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) is a term that describes injuries that can occur after a sports collision, car accident, or slip and fall. There can be a constellation of complaints including neck pain, upper back pain, headaches, dizziness, and pain radiating to the arms. Most healthcare professionals agree that a conservative, non-surgical approach is the best method of treating WAD. Research studies show that chiropractic care tends to be very favorable for pain relief and restoration of function in the treatment of whiplash-associated disorders.
It must be said that “whiplash” is more of a layman’s term than a medical term. Describes a neck injury due to a rapid, forceful movement of the neck back and forth, like the cracking of a whip. Of course, this violent movement during an accident can cause tissue damage in the neck, especially soft tissue.
The soft tissues of the neck include muscles, ligaments, and fascia. The small joints between the neck bones, called the cervical vertebrae, can also be damaged. These joints, called facet joints, can become misaligned and move correctly.
There has been a lot of research on whiplash-associated disorders. Studies generally address the immediate post-injury period, which is called the acute phase (less than two weeks), the subacute phase (2 to 12 weeks), and the chronic phase (three months or more).
It should be noted that a consensus of research studies showed that exercise and cervical manipulation and mobilization were recommended for pain relief and restoration of function at each phase of recovery. Perhaps surprisingly, immobilization and lack of movement, such as when wearing a soft collar, was not effective and may even impede recovery.
Chiropractic care in the treatment of WAD involves manipulation and mobilization. Both of these forms of treatment focus on restoring normal alignment and proper movement to the facet joints of the cervical spine. This helps patients gain pain relief and the ability to restore normal function for activities of daily living at home, work, and recreational and social activities.
The exercises, which are commonly recommended by chiropractic doctors, focus on stretching and strengthening soft tissue. These exercises speed healing and pain relief and help, in the long term, to improve upper body posture to prevent painful conditions from recurring.
It is best if chiropractic care begins in the acute and subacute phases. Damage to the soft tissues and facet joints of the cervical spine have the best chance of healing when treatment is started within the first three months after an accident to achieve pain relief. Permanent deleterious effects such as scar tissue, degeneration, and arthritis are more likely to occur if chiropractic treatment is not administered early in the restorative process.
Chiropractic care begun soon after the onset of a whiplash-associated disorder could make the difference between health or disability, comfort or pain.