Chiropractors are specialists in treating non-surgical spine injuries and commonly treat whiplash injuries from car accidents. The job of the chiropractor in helping his or her patients overcome the pain and disability associated with whiplash is to:
- Diagnose the source of the pain
- Treat the most important dysfunctions
- Teach the patient to return to a more normal lifestyle
The process of rehabilitation requires a concerted effort between the chiropractor, the patient and any other professional assisting in the case. The likelihood of success is enhanced by a continued focus on restoring normal function. Ninety-three percent of whiplash patients improve with chiropractic care.
The “whiplash” syndrome is a collection of symptoms produced as a result of soft-tissue injury of the cervical spine. The accumulated literature suggests that 43 percent of patients will suffer long-term symptoms following whiplash injury. If patients are still symptomatic after three months then there is almost a 90 percent chance that they will remain so. No conventional treatment has proven to be effective in these established chronic cases.
Twenty-eight patients with chronic whiplash pain were referred to the chiropractic physician an average 15.5 months (range: 3-44) after the accident, and were interviewed before treatment by both an independent chiropractor and orthopedic physician. The patients were assigned to one of four classification groups: A – No symptoms; B – Symptoms are a nuisance; C – Symptoms are intrusive; and D – Symptoms are disabling.
The initial evaluation placed 27 of the 28 patients in groups C or D. Following treatment, 26 (93%) of the patients had improved – 16 by one symptom group and 10 by two symptom groups. This improvement was independent of whether it was assessed by an orthopedic surgeon or a chiropractor.
Woodward MN, Cook JCH, Gargan MF, Bannister GC. Chiropractic treatment of chronic whiplash injuries. Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured 1996; 27(9):643-645