Whiplash is a term used to describe a collection of injuries that occur with rapid acceleration and deceleration of the cervical spine. Many clients seek massage as part of a holistic treatment plan for whiplash.
What Exactly is Whiplash?
Technically, CAD (cervical acceleration-deceleration), or whiplash, describes many different injuries that occur when the head whips rapidly backward and then forward. This injury is very common in auto accidents.
The injuries can include:
- sprained ligaments
- strained muscles
- cartilage and joint capsule damage
- vertebral fracture
- disc rupture
- spinal cord damage
More than 1 million cases of whiplash due to car accidents are reported every year. It is estimated that about 16 Million people in the US have had whiplash.
The direction of travel, speed, seatbelt use, and direction of impact can all factor into the individual injuries that occur in whiplash cases.
The muscles most often involved include: sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, splenius cervicis, splenius capitis, and levator scapulae. Supportive ligaments of the shoulder and cervical spine may also suffer trauma.
Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash
- Head and neck pain
- may radiate into the trunk or arms
- Cervical vertebrae out of alignment
- Loss of range of motion
- inability to flex or extend the neck
- inability to turn head from side to side
- Spasms
- The small muscles that support your cervical vertebrae, as well as the larger muscles responsible for movement may try to “splint” the injury by locking down tight.
- Headaches
- can be caused by trigger points in the neck
- Temporal-Mandibular-Jaw (TMJ) pain
- cranial bones out of alignment
- Trigger Points
- Neurological symptoms (may be a sign of a concussion)
- dizziness
- blurred vision
- ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Diagnosis and Treatment of Whiplash
Any traumatic injury should first and foremost be examined and diagnosed by a physician.
Your doctor will evaluate the extent of your injuries using x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Your doctor may recommend the use of a stiff neck collar to immobilize your neck and allow healing and reduce muscle spasms. You may also be prescribed muscle relaxers and painkillers.
It is very important to tell me about any medications that you are on to treat your whiplash symptoms.
Massage Therapy for Whiplash
During the acute phase of your neck injury, you should NOT receive massage to your neck.
After proper diagnosis and determination that no serious disorder (disc rupture, fractures, etc) has occurred, chiropractic manipulation and massage therapy may be enough to heal the pain of whiplash. Massage can yield good results by preventing or releasing muscle spasms.
Massage is also good for increasing blood flow to, and waste product removal from, the surrounding soft tissues, speeding up the healing process. A practiced massage therapist can treat any adhesions, reduce scar tissue, and increase your range of motion.
All massage modalities can be used once whiplash reaches the subacute stage.
I work very closely with Dr. Patrick Defazio DC, a chiropractor in Beverly Hills. A treatment plan that involves regular visits with Dr. Defazio and massage therapy sessions with me greatly increases the speed at which you will recover from whiplash. Most insurance policies will cover these treatments. If you seek the services of a personal injury attorney, they will very likely recommend that you seek this type of treatment plan.
Disclaimer: I am a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) who provides mobile massage therapy in the greater Kansas City area. I am not a medical doctor and I am not licensed to diagnose any diseases. If I suspect a serious medical condition based on my past medical experience and research, I will refer you to consult with your primary care physician.
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