This question was investigated in a published study titled, A Symptomatic Classification of Whiplash Injury and the Implications for Treatment (Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine 1999;21(1):22-25).  The authors state conventional [medical] treatment utilized in whiplash care, “is disappointing.”  The authors’ reference a study that demonstrated chiropractic treatment benefited 26 of 28 patients with chronic whiplash syndrome.  The objective of their study was to determine which type of chronic whiplash patient from a car accident would benefit the most from chiropractic treatment.  They separated patients into one of 3 groups:

Group 1: patients with “neck pain radiating in a ‘coat hanger’ distribution, associated with a loss of neck movement but with no nerve involvement”;

Group 2: patients with “ nerve injury symptoms, signs or both in association with neck pain and a restricted range of neck movement”;

Group 3: patients who described “severe neck pain but all of whom had a full range of motion and no neurological symptoms or signs distributed over specific myotomes or dermatomes.”  These patients also “described an unusual complex of symptoms,” including “blackouts, visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting and chest pain, along with a nondermatomal distribution of pain.”

The patients underwent an average of 19.3 treatments over the course of 4.1 months (mean).  The patients were then surveyed and their improvement was reported:

These findings show the best chiropractic treatment results of whiplash from car accidents occur in patients with mechanical neck pain (group 1) and / or those with some nerve injury (group 2).  The exaggerated group (group 3) was the most challenging and, the only group where a small percentage worsened.  The good news is, the number of cases that responded well to chiropractic treatment (groups 1 & 2) far out number those that don’t (group 3).  Hence, most patients with whiplash injuries from car accidents should consider chiropractic as their first choice of health care provision.

If you, a loved one, or a friend is struggling with whiplash residuals from a car accident, you can depend on receiving a multi-dimensional chiropractic whiplash assessment and therapeutic approach at this office.  We sincerely appreciate your confidence in choosing our office for your health care needs!

Doctors’ Choice Physical Medicine and Rehab

Dr. David Novatnak

Glee Pascual, Physical Therapist

Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA

This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your medical history.