Not Just Car Accidents
Causes, Symptoms, and Lasting Impacts of Cervical Trauma
While the term “whiplash” is primarily known for issues caused by car accidents, it can also occur in situations where the cervical spine is subjected to trauma, such as in contact sports like rugby, boxing, or martial arts, and even in less impact-intensive sports like basketball or volleyball. Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly and often violently forced into extension and flexion, or lateral flexion, resulting in injury to the soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments associated with the cervical spine. Symptoms can develop immediately after an incident, associated with a longer recovery, or the next day with increasing symptoms over time. Based on my clinical experience, a patient may present symptoms long after the incident.
Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness with difficulty moving
- Muscle spasms
- Headaches
- Pain in the shoulders and arms
Less commonly, patients may experience:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Memory loss
- Tingling in the upper limbs
Chiropractic care can identify and treat the vertebrae affected and particular attention will be given to restoring the vital balance of the nervous system, especially the relationships between the vestibular system, the visual system, and the associated neck muscle tonicity.
Other treatable symptoms
Cervicalgia
The cervical spine is critical for neurological signals and brain support.
Neck problems result from trauma and poor posture due to electronic devices.
Herniated disc
The spine is composed of vertebrae connected by joints and intervertebral discs, which provide movement and cushioning.
Incorrect alignment can cause herniated discs, with leakage of internal material that can compress the spinal cord and nerves.
Lumbago
About 85% of the Western population will suffer from low back pain in their lifetime, mainly due to mechanical causes.
Factors such as poor posture, repetitive movements, emotional stress and aging contribute to these pains.
Headache
Headaches are classified into primary and secondary.
Primary, 95 percent of cases, include migraine, muscle-tensive, and cluster headaches.
Secondary ones result from other causes such as sinusitis, medications, meningitis, trauma, tumors, and cervical problems.
Shoulder pain
The shoulder is a complex joint that balances mobility and stability through the cooperation of three main joints and two pseudo-joints, controlled by 23 muscles.
Biomechanical problems of the spine can affect the shoulder, causing incorrect movements and microtrauma.