Neck pain associated with motor vehicle accidents is a very real problem that is often joked about and discounted.

In 1995, 5.5 million Americans were injured in motor vehicle accidents.
The majority of patients report resolution of their symptoms by 4 to 6 weeks, but up to one third may complain of chronic neck and arm symptoms.

Approximately 15 million Americans currently complain of chronic whiplash symptoms. Although wearing seat belts at the time of impact has prevented countless life-threatening injuries, whiplash injuries have doubled since mandatory seat belt laws were introduced.

The seat belt can act as a fulcrum increasing injury to the neck. The joint structures in the neck (Zygapophysial joints) are particularly vulnerable to injury during the whiplash trauma and these injuries are rarely seen on x-ray.

Treatment often focuses on reducing inflammation with medication and rest. If pain does not resolve quickly or the severity is disabling, patients are often referred for physical therapy where treatment efforts concentrate on the muscles. All current research available published in the best orthopedic and neurological journals in the world agree that while muscles are typically painful and stiff, the joint structures are driving this pain and must be attended to in order to prevent chronic pain from developing. High velocity, low amplitude chiropractic adjustments have been demonstrated as superior in treating these joints than any other form of medical care. When joint treatment is combined with deep tissue massage and activation of muscle tissues with controlled exercise, motor vehicle accident victims have the best opportunity to avoid chronic pain.



Statistics on the long term consequences of these injuries can be very discouraging.

Gargan and Bannister published in The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine, 1997 that people suffering whiplash type injuries were 8 times more likely to have chronic neck pain, 16 times more likely to suffer from pain and tingling in their arms, 11 times more likely to suffer from chronic headache and 4 times more likely to have neck degeneration than those who have not been exposed to this type of injury.

Appropriate treatment following these accidents is vital for full recovery and reducing the incidence of long term consequences. Reduction in inflammation, pain management, early mobilization (chiropractic adjustments) of the cervical joint structures and myofascial release are excellent early interventions. Once joint mechanics begin to normalize, activation of the muscles with controlled exercise is important. At Graham Rehabilitation and Wellness Center we offer a multidisciplinary approach to these injuries. This integration of the health care disciplines offer patients who suffer from these injuries the best opportunity to fully recover not only in the short term, but in the long term as well.


Khan, et el, published in The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine, 1999 on the treatment of whiplash injured patients with chiropractic care. In this study patients were categorized in three groups. Group 1 consisted of patients with isolated neck pain and reduced neck range of motion. Group 2 consisted of patients with neurological signs and findings (pain or numbness down their arms) with reduced neck range of motion. Group 3 consisted of patients with severe neck pain but all had normal or full neck range of motion. All patients were evaluated and treated by an experienced chiropractic physician. Group 1, the neck pain group demonstrated a 72% success rate. Group 2, the group of patients with arm symptoms and neck pain with loss of neck motion, demonstrated a 94% success rate. Group 3, where patients had severe pain without loss in neck range of motion had a 27% success rate. Previous studies suggested that patients who have arm symptoms (radiculopathy) had poorer prognosis, but this study suggest that under chiropractic management this is not so.

What if you already have chronic symptoms from a whiplash type injury? Woodward and Cook published in the journal Injury, 1996 that chiropractic adjustments where treating the movement patterns of the joints in the neck is the only proven treatment in chronic whiplash related neck pain. They quoted a 93% improvement rate of chronic neck pain sufferers under chiropractic care.