Whiplash associated disorder (WAD) injuries usually result from rear-end, low-impact crashes with about 90% occurring at speeds less than 14 mph. Approximately 40% of all WAD patients develop long-term, chronic problems. Let’s look at how chiropractic care can help crash-injured patients recover and return to their normal lives...
REDUCE INFLAMMATION: Inflammation occurs when ligaments and muscles are injured. However, the pain associated with inflammation may be delayed and not show up right away. Rather, you may wake up the next morning with acute neck and/or back pain, as WAD injuries are NOT limited to only the neck. Several studies have shown that chiropractic spinal manipulation results in the release of anti-inflammatory Interleukin 6 (IL-6), which helps reduce inflammation.
RESTORE MOVEMENT: Injured joints quickly become stiff from pain and swelling. Muscles often “splint” in response to pain as a way to protect a deeper ligament or joint-related injury. Both factors can lead a patient to unnecessarily restrict their movement, weakening that area of the body, and increasing the risk of further injury down the road.
REDUCE SCAR TISSUE: As injured tissue heals, the body’s “Band-Aid” is actually scar tissue that is made up of similar cells as the surrounding tissue but is laid down quickly and in an unorganized way. Scar tissue reduces the ability for the injured tissue to stretch and can lead to tissue shortening. If it is performed early enough, Chiropractic adjustments help to stretch out and—in a sense—break up the scar tissue.
RELIEVE LOCALIZED PAIN: Many studies report spinal manipulation (SM) to be a safe, fast, and effective way to reduce pain. As a result, SM is now strongly recommended in treatment guidelines published throughout the world.
REDUCE WIDESPREAD PAIN: Some WAD-injured patients develop pain not just in the neck or back but more widespread throughout their body. This is thought to be caused by “sensitization” of parts of our nervous system. Spinal adjustments have been shown to stimulate the nervous system in such a way as to reduce this hypersensitized effect.
REDUCE STRESS & CHRONIC PAIN: Due to initial high pain intensity, stress and anxiety levels often soar following a WAD injury. Chiropractic care includes patient education, exercise, nutrition, and more to help patients cope with ongoing problems. The importance of EARLY INTERVENTION cannot be overemphasized in quest of preventing chronic, long-term pain and disability.
