Whiplash usually occurs when the head is
suddenly whipped or snapped due to a sudden jolt, usually involving a motor
vehicle collision. However, it can also occur from a slip and fall injury. So the question on deck is, which of the
health care services best addresses the injured whiplash patient?
This question was investigated in a
published study titled, A symptomatic classification of whiplash injury and the
implications for treatment (Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine
1999;21(1):22-25). The authors state
conventional [medical] treatment utilized in whiplash care, "is
disappointing." The authors’
reference a study that demonstrated chiropractic treatment benefited 26 of 28
patients with chronic whiplash syndrome.
The objective of their study was to determine which type of chronic
whiplash patient would benefit the most from chiropractic treatment. They separated patients into one of 3
groups: Group 1:
patients with "neck pain radiating in a 'coat hanger' distribution,
associated with restricted range of neck movement but with no neurological
deficit"; Group 2: patients with "neurological
symptoms, signs or both in association with neck pain and a restricted range of
neck movement"; Group 3: patients who described
"severe neck pain but all of whom had a full range of motion and no
neurological symptoms or signs distributed over specific myotomes or
dermatomes." These patients also "described an unusual complex of
symptoms," including "blackouts, visual disturbances, nausea,
vomiting and chest pain, along with a nondermatomal distribution of pain."
The patients underwent an average of
19.3 adjustments over the course of 4.1 months (mean). The patients were then
surveyed and their improvement was reported:
These findings show the best
chiropractic treatment results occur in patients with mechanical neck pain
(group 1) and / or those with neurological losses (group 2). The exaggerated group (group 3) was the most
challenging and, the only group where a small percentage worsened. The good news is, the number of cases that
responded well to chiropractic treatment (groups 1 & 2) far out number
those that don’t (group 3). Hence, most patients with whiplash injuries
should consider chiropractic as their first choice of health care provision.
