Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Presented by Dr. Tindall and Dr. Miller from E’town Chiropractic Center.

Vehicle collisions are all too common. And while there are a variety of ways to get whiplash, vehicle accidents remain the most common. There are a variety of affects of whiplash or Whiplash-Associated Disorders. Whiplash is also know as Cervical Acceleration/ Deceleration Syndrome, or CADS.

We see whiplash cases in our health clinic and we can help with recovery. It can be understood to happen in four phases.

Phase 1The first step of whiplash starts when the seat impacts the body. It begins acceleration of the body and an S curve begins in the cervical spine. This cause the upper neck to be forced into flexion, while lower neck joints forced into extension. Causing injury to the joints of the upper spine and lower spine.

Phase 2

In phase two, the neck hyperextends and the head hits the seat. In this phase the tissue in the front of the neck get injured.

Phase 3

In the third phase, the passenger rebounds from the seat and moves forward. The head accelerates forward too.

Phase 4

In the fourth phase, and possibly the most damaging phase, the seatbelt restrains the body. But the head keeps moving forward and the neck is forced into hyperflexion. This phase injures the tissue on the back of the neck.

Some Whiplash Stats

• Approximately 15 to 40 percent of those injured in automobile accidents will struggle with chronic pain for the rest of their life. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007

• Whiplash injuries not only increase your chances of chronic neck and shoulder pain, they also increase the probability of other unrelated health problems. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2001

• Chronic Pain can be debilitating. According to standardized assessment tests, people struggling with chronic pain, caused by whiplash injuries, have abnormal psychological profiles. The only way to resolve these abnormal psychological profiles is to relieve / remove the chronic back pain, neck pain and headaches. Pain, 1997

• The longest-running study ever done on whiplash patients looked at the overall health of whiplash patients almost 20 years after their automobile accident. More than 50 percent of those patients still deal with chronic pain. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2002

• One in 100 people around the world suffer from ongoing chronic neck pain due to an automobile-induced whiplash injury. Injury, 2005

• One in 50 people injured in a whiplash-like accident deal with chronic pain severe enough to need diagnostic testing, medications, and doctor visits, on an ongoing basis —– nearly eight years after the accident occurs. Pain, 1994

Interesting stats, huh? Whiplash is the most commonly used term for what happens when your head and neck suddenly accelerates and is “whipped” back with deceleration. More than 3 million new cases of whiplash occur each year and more than 50 percent of those progress to some degree of chronic symptoms. As I mentioned, whiplash is commonly caused in even the most minor of car accidents, however, it can also happen in sports, work injuries and other accidents that may “snap” your head suddenly and violently.

Common Whiplash Symptoms

• What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?• The pain of whiplash is often hard to ignore. The

symptoms may include:• Pain, decreased range of motion, and tightness in

the neck. The muscles may feel hard or knotted.• Pain when rocking your head from side to side or

backward and forward.• Tenderness.• Headaches at the base of the skull that radiate

towards the forehead.• Sometimes, the pain of a neck strain is immediate.

In other cases, it can take several hours or days before your neck begins to hurt.

• The blow that causes neck strain can sometimes cause a concussion, too. Since concussions can be serious, you need to see a doctor right away. You need emergency medical care if you are confused, dizzy, nauseous, excessively sleepy, or unconscious.

If you have any of theses symptoms after a crash, you were injured in that crash and need to evaluated by a Doctor of Chiropractic to full assess your injuries!!

Our Doctors

• Dr. Dean Tindall graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with research honors.

• Completed "Whiplash: the Masters Program" which is an advanced course of study in the diagnosis and clinical management of the cervical acceleration/deceleration trauma and whiplash related temporo-mandibular joint disorder.

• Certified as a Low Speed Accident Re-constructionist through the Spine Research Institute of San Diego.

• Dr. Tindall is the only Chiropractic Orthopedic Specialist in Hardin County and one of a few practicing in Kentucky. As a Diplomat of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedics (DABCO),

• Doctorate in Naturopathic from Clayton College of Natural Health and graduated with highest honors.

• Provide testimony in court and depositions in numerous whiplash cases.

Dr. Miller did his undergraduate work at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated in 1980 at Palmer College of Chiropractic, considered one of the finest institutions of it’s kind in the world.

Dr. Miller continues his education through attendance at various post-graduate programs to update his skills in chiropractic.

Dr. Miller is a member of many prestigious chiropractic organizations including The Kentucky Association of Chiropractors and is a Diplomate of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.