What Whiplash Is
Whiplash is a cervical acceleration-deceleration injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck during a collision. The term describes a mechanism of injury, not a specific diagnosis — the actual injuries produced can range from cervical muscle and ligament strain to disc herniation with nerve root compression.
Symptoms of Whiplash
- Neck pain and stiffness — often worst on the day after the accident
- Limited range of motion in the neck
- Headaches that begin at the base of the skull
- Pain or numbness radiating into the shoulders and arms
- Dizziness and visual disturbances
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
How Whiplash Is Diagnosed at MAIC
MAIC's initial cervical evaluation includes goniometric range of motion measurement in all six planes of cervical motion; orthopedic testing including Spurling's test, Lhermitte's sign, and Jackson's compression test; neurological screening of upper extremity reflexes, sensation, and strength; and immediate cervical MRI ordering to evaluate for disc herniation and ligamentous injury.
Treatment
Treatment for whiplash at MAIC typically involves chiropractic manipulation and soft tissue therapy, physical therapy with progressive strengthening, pain management when conservative care is insufficient, and specialist consultation when MRI reveals disc herniation or other structural pathology. Call (888) 991-5290.