Whiplash injuries are very commonly seen as a result of the forces sustained in motor vehicle accidents. However, even if you don’t focus your practice on treating auto injuries, you have likely had patients present with whiplash type disorders after a slip and fall, sports injury, or even after a long day on a theme park rollercoaster.
For many providers, treating these injuries can be frustrating. A whiplash injury is traumatic to the delicate soft tissues in our cervical spine and requires thoughtful treatment. New research shows a multimodal approach to care can be beneficial in treating both acute and chronic neck pain. Multimodal care is defined as treatment with at least 2 therapeutic methods provided by 1 or more health care disciplines.
A combination of manual therapy (with spinal manipulation), therapeutic exercise, and proper guidance is essential to help a patient get to maximum medical improvement and get back their quality of life.
“The majority of adults with traffic injuries report pain in the neck and upper limb pain. Other common symptoms of WAD’s include headache, stiffness, shoulder and back pain, numbness, dizziness, sleeping difficulties, fatigue, and cognitive deficits.”
“More than 85% of patients experience neck pain after a motor vehicle accident, often associated with sprains and strains to the back and extremities, headache, psychological symptomatology, and mild traumatic brain injury.”
“A multimodal approach including manual therapy, self-management advice, and exercise is an effective treatment strategy for both recent onset and persistent neck pain.”
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