Whiplash

Whiplash is caused when the "soft tissue" in the spinal cord is stretched and strained. This typically occurs after the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. The injury most commonly occurs in car crashes involving sudden deceleration, but the injury can also occur in other strenuous physical activities such as diving.

Whiplash patients typically experience powerful headaches and neck stiffness.

Common Causes

• A stiff neck (frequently accompanied by a headache) caused by a violent extension of the neck, e.g., in a car accident or falling forward face-first
• Problems often manifest in the neck but can also appear in the upper-back and even in the lumbar spine region

Treatments

• If the condition does not swiftly remedy itself, then Osteopathic techniques are highly appropriate for speeding the body towards recovery
• Untreated, whiplash symptoms can persist for months or years causing chronic pain

The content of this page is informed by feedback from osteopathic practitioners in Scotland and also clinics in Birmingham. Further input was received from osteopaths in the Croydon area and practices in Bromley. Finally a contribution was made by a practitioner in Brighton