2960 North State Rd. 7 | Suite 204 | Margate, FL 33063
The term “whiplash” is used to denote the forceful snapping (front to back or side to side) the head and neck receive when subjected to the significant forces developed in automobile accidents. Whiplash is medically categorized as a Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration (CAD) injury. Many people feel that as long as they walk away from an auto accident without any broken bones or bleeding, or if there is only minimal damage to the car, they are “ok”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Wearing seat belts, which saves lives by keeping occupants within the vehicle at the time of impact, actually intensifies
neck and lower back injuries by locking the shoulders into the seat and allowing the head and neck to be forcefully flexed (chin to chest motion) and the lower back to be over stretched.
Studies show that even low speed impacts which cause little or no damage to the vehicle can cause significant damage to the occupants within the vehicle. (Please see our section on automobile accidents located under resources on our web site) (link here) Forces developed in an 8 mph collision create enough force within the vehicle to cause concussions, loss of consciousness, fractured vertebrae, and severe soft tissue injuries. In some cases pain and dysfunction don’t become readily apparent for days, weeks, or even months following the accident. ER physicians are trained to look for fractures, and life threatening emergencies and often the true damage from CAD injuries does not show up for several days following the injury. Anyone involved in an auto accident should be thoroughly checked by a physician trained in post accident evaluation and treatment even if you have been seen in the hospital.
The physicians and staff at Northwest Wellness Center have 25 years of experience in evaluating and treating these types of traumatic injuries. Our facility is designed to accommodate patients with these types of injuries; we have the most advanced types of physical therapy equipment to help alleviate pain and swelling, rehabilitation equipment to stabilize and strengthen injured tendons, ligaments, and muscles, massage to restore blood flow and lymphatic drainage and relax sore and injured muscles. Acupuncture can help with the headaches and other symptoms which often accompany CAD injuries. If left untreated, whiplash will create permanent changes to the supporting tissues of the spine causing a more rapid development of arthritis within the spinal joints and increased overall degeneration to the discs and other delicate spinal structures. Once this occurs, loss of range of motion, weakness, and sensory changes will usually occur.
