MVA Whiplash & Chiropractic Care

An acute injury to the cervical spine (neck) that occurs due to a sudden hyper-flexion and hyper-extension force, damaging internal structures. Most commonly through motor vehicle accidents (MVA's). Symptoms occur between 24-72 hours of injury; lasting anywhere between a few weeks, between 2-3 months, and sometimes up to 2 years.

Most common symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, back pain, paraesthesia of the arm & impingement syndromes. With management, between 88-93% of patients have been shown to make a full recovery within those first 2-3 months following injury. In chronic whiplash syndrome patients (3 months +) motor system dysfunction, sensory hyper-sensitivity and psychological distress is common. Cognitive disorders such as impaired concentration, forgetfulness, PTSD and driving anxiety can occur, as well as depressive signs.

Chiropractic Care as treatment has shown tremendous outcomes, with 93% of patients improving after chiropractic adjustments! The intention to increase a functional spinal units range of motion, to break down adhesion and to stimulate synovial fluid production and CNS innervation seems to be key. Even those with the most complicated cases of chronic whiplash with neurological symptoms, Chiropractic has been shown as one of the only effective treatment modalities.