Advanced Wellness  and Injury Center

8B Christopher Columbus Avenue
Danbury, Connecticut 06810
Telephone: (203) 798-WELL(9355) Fax: (203) 778-6612

Physicians Health and Injury Center has expanded its wellness services and is now Advanced Wellness and Injury Center

Monday Closed

 Wednesday, Friday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Tuesday 2:00pm - 5:30pm    Thursday 2:00pm - 6:00pm

TELEMEDICINE virtual visits are available from your home for continued care and safety

Whiplash

Whiplash is a generic term applied to injuries of the neck caused when the neck is suddenly and/or violently jolted in one direction and then another, creating a whip-like movement. Whiplash is most commonly seen in people involved in motor vehicle accidents, but it can also occur from falls, sports injuries, work injuries, and other incidents.

Whiplash injuries most often result in sprain-strain of the neck. The ligaments that help support, protect, and restrict excessive movement of the vertebrae are torn, which is called a sprain. The joints in the back of the spine are covered by ligaments, which seem to be particularly susceptible to whiplash injury.

In addition, the muscles and tendons are strained—stretched beyond their normal limits. The discs between the vertebrae, which are essentially ligaments, can be torn, potentially causing a disc herniation. The nerve roots between the vertebrae may also be stretched and become inflamed.

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms                                                                                                          

The most common symptoms of whiplash are pain and stiffness in the neck. These symptoms are generally found in the areas that are “whiplashed.” For example, during a whiplash, first the head is lifted up from the upper-cervical spine. This creates a sprain/strain in the region just below the skull, where symptoms usually occur. Symptoms may also commonly be seen in the front and back of the neck. Turning the head often makes the pain and discomfort worse.

Headache, especially at the base of the skull, is also a common symptom, seen in more than two thirds of patients. These headaches may be one-sided (unilateral) or experienced on both sides (bilateral). In addition, the pain and stiffness may extend down into the shoulders and arms, upper back, and even the upper chest.

In addition to the musculoskeletal symptoms, some patients also experience dizziness, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and even blurred vision after a whiplash injury. Vertigo (the sensation of the room spinning) and ringing in the ears may also be seen. Some patients may feel pain in the jaw. Others will even complain of irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Our team at Physicians Health and Injury Center will prescribe spinal manipulation and/or mobilization to provide relief in many cases of neck pain. Other physical therapy modalities, such as electrical stimulation and/or ultrasound, may provide some short-term relief.   An exercise or stretching program will be developed to achieve the best long-term benefits resulting from whiplash injuries.

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