Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) injuries usually result from rear-end, low-impact crashes with about 90% occurring at speeds less than 14 mph. Approximately 40% of all WAD patients develop long-term, chronic problems. Let’s look at how chiropractic care can help crash-injured patients recover and return to their normal lives…
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Inflammation occurs when ligaments and muscles obtain an injury. However, the pain associates with inflammation and may delay or not show up right away. Rather, you may wake up the next morning with acute neck and/or back pain, as WAD injuries have no limit. Several studies have shown that chiropractic spinal manipulation results in the release of anti-inflammatory Interleukin 6 (IL-6), which helps reduce inflammation.
RESTORE MOVEMENT
Injured joints quickly become stiff from pain and swelling. Muscles often “splint” in response to pain as a way to protect a deeper ligament or joint-related injury. Both factors can lead a patient to unnecessarily restrict their movement, weakening that area of the body, and increasing the risk of further injury down the road.
REDUCE SCAR TISSUE
As injured tissue heals, the body’s “Band-Aid” is actually scar tissue that is made up of similar cells as the surrounding tissue but is laid down quickly and in an unorganized way. Scar tissue reduces the ability of the injured tissue to stretch and can lead to tissue shortening. If it is performed early enough, chiropractic adjustments help to stretch out and—in a sense—break up the scar tissue.
RELIEVE LOCALIZED PAIN
Many studies report spinal manipulation (SM) to be a safe, fast, and effective way to reduce pain. As a result, SM is now a strong recommendation in treatment guidelines published throughout the world.
LOWER WIDESPREAD PAIN
Some WAD-injured patients develop pain not just in the neck or back but more widespread throughout their bodies. This can occur by the “sensitization” of parts of our nervous system. Spinal adjustments stimulate the nervous system in such a way as to reduce this hypersensitized effect.
REDUCE STRESS & CHRONIC PAIN
Due to initial high pain intensity, stress and anxiety levels often soar following a WAD injury. Chiropractic care includes patient education, exercise, nutrition, and more to help patients cope with ongoing problems. The importance of EARLY INTERVENTION cannot be overemphasized in the quest of preventing chronic, long-term pain and disability.
