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The term “whiplash” was first used in the early twentieth century to describe the particular mechanism of injury to the head and neck during a sudden acceleration or deceleration movement. The alternating motion of the head is like the cracking of a whip. This is also known as Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD).
Most cases of Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) result from car accidents. About 20% of car accidents are rear end collisions and these are the ones that typically cause whiplash type injury.
Symptoms that characterise the syndrome include headache, neck, facial, ear and dental pain, tinnitus, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, watering of the eyes and sinus congestion. Other symptoms may include unilateral swelling of the face, localised cyanosis of the face, facial numbness, hoarseness, shoulder pain, numbness of the hands and forearms, muscle weakness and fatigue.
A full examination of the neck, shoulder and thoracic spine should be carried out along with a neurological examination of the extremities and cranial nerves. Upper limb tension testing is also an invaluable aid to diagnosis. Imaging is usually unhelpful in WAD as the problem is normally due to dysfunction and not a structural injury.
We suggest that you see a chiropractor or osteopath or physiotherapist for this condition. Check out our practitioners’ profiles for more information about their clinical interests and specialities.
All our practitioners are experienced in their fields and trained to treat most conditions with different methods. They work together to find the best treatment most suited to your condition. Check out our services pages to find out more about these therapies.
Common recommendations for an acute injury include rest, initially with ice compresses, gentle massage and a gentle range-of-motion exercise for the first few days. Muscle stretching, trigger point therapy, soft tissue massage, manual therapy, postural training and traction are all treatments that can be used in the management of whiplash.
Following treatment at Blackberry Clinic, Milton Keynes my back pain improved and I could play for my country again
Just wanted to say please pass my thanks to my osteopath, I came yesterday with terrible back and shoulder pain and today I am pain free, am well delighted as had a day planned with friends was worried I wouldn’t enjoy, please pass my thanks onto her.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lorena has changed my life. Four months ago, having been diagnosed as having “severe, acute and chronic” disc degeneration I genuinely thought I was facing a life of disability (I am 49).
Lorena has re-taught me how to move my body and how to think about what muscles I engage to a point that I am now running, swimming and doing pilates again and have almost full flexibility in my spine. It almost feels like Lorena can see through your skin to your muscles, so profound is her understanding of how the body moves.
After a course of Prolotherapy my back pain has gone and I live a normal life. I can’t thank Dr Petrides enough for giving me back my quality of life
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