Whiplash injury of the neck: symptoms, treatment, consequences

Whiplash injury of the neck

Whiplash injury of the neck occurs with sharp vibrational movements (whip-like flexion and extension of the neck) as a result of the strongest impact.

In this case, the pathology is manifested by severe or insignificant trauma to the muscular ligaments and damage to the intervertebral joint.

Quite often with this type of injury there is a jamming of the nerve end and damage to the blood vessels.

Causes

Most often, it is not possible to accurately diagnose the cause of the pain in the cervical region immediately after the injury.

Bunches and muscles become inflamed and stretched, but patients do not always consider it necessary to treat such a condition, so the process goes into a more severe stage, which lasts about 6-10 weeks and leads to more serious problems, for example, damage to intervertebral discs or facet joints (arcuate articulations connecting the vertebrae of the posterior segment).

Pain symptomatology in the facet joints is most often a symptom after a car accident and leads to chronic pain in the neck.

The only way that more accurately confirms the role of the facet joint in the appearance of a pain symptom is the blockade of the medial branch.

To the appearance of chronic pain in the cervical region can cause injury to the disc, while the disk itself provides motor activity in the neck and at the same time, keeps it from unnecessary movements.

The fibrous ring (outer part of the disc) can break as a result of whiplash injury.

Most often, such a gap heals, but there are also reverse cases, in which the disk weakens and provokes acute pain even during the usual activities. Pain is localized in the fibrous ring (in the place of nerve endings).

Fracture of fibrous ring in whiplash injury

Very rarely, pain symptoms in the neck are caused by disc hernias and compression of nerve endings.

For such a development of pathology, the predominance of pain in the hand is characteristic, similar to the symptomatology of spinal hernia or the appearance of osteophytes.

The cause of acute pain can be a stretching of the muscles in the cervical and upper back. Possible damage to the muscles in the protection of damaged discs, joints and nerves in violation of posture.

When using seat belts, the risk of whiplash injury is increased, but this drawback is blocked by the ability of the belt to prevent other damage, including threatening life.

Symptoms

Symptoms of whiplash injury are caused by neck injuries with the subsequent development of muscle spasm and the formation of local edema.

Some manifestations, such as the development of vertebral artery syndrome, can be related to the irrigation (irritation) of the sympathetic fibers that surround the vertebral artery.

As a rule, initial symptoms with varying degrees of severity appear in 1/3 of patients in the first 2-3 hours, in the remaining 2-3 days.

The characteristic symptoms accompanying whiplash injuries are:

• the appearance of pain in the shoulder girdle and cervical region, which are strengthened when moving with arms and head. At the same time there is a restriction of movements in the cervical region, first of all, when the head is tilted;
• about 25% of cases there is dizziness, which can be systemic and can be combined with imbalances;
• often there are headaches localized in the occipital region, but sometimes the pain radiates to the orbit and the temple. There is a ringing and noise in the ears, blurred vision and paresthesia of the facial area;
• in 30% of cases there is a decreased ability of concentration of attention and an easy memory disorder.

Characteristic symptoms of face paresis with a whiplash injury of 3 degree

Quite often, the patient has a mood change (depression, anxiety), constant pain after trauma to the neck leads to chronic depression. Neurological symptoms are characteristic of radicular injury, plexus, or spinal cord.

Degrees of injury

There are 4 stages of severity of whiplash:

1. At 1 degree of muscle spasm does not occur and the victim most often does not even turn to a medical institution, as the symptomatology of trauma is poorly expressed and gradually increases, within 1 month after trauma. The first degree of development of whiplash injury occurs in 40% of all cases.
2. About 30% of cases of cervical injury are related to the 2nd degree of the disease. In this case, there is damage to the muscle tissue, acute pain and limitation of mobility of the neck. As a rule, with such a symptomatology, patients seek medical help during the first 24 hours after the injury.
3. 12% of all whiplash injuries are lesions of grade 3, characterized by paresis, pain and neurological pathologies.
4. At 4 degrees of whiplash injury there may be fractures and dislocations of the vertebrae, as well as a pronounced neurological symptomatology. This degree requires immediate medical attention.

The course of whiplash injury is divided into periods:

• acute (the first 3-4 days);
• acute (within 3 weeks);
• subacute (after 21 days), continuing for 3 more weeks.

In the event that the symptoms of trauma persist for 6 months (interim period), a chronic stage of whiplash cervical injury occurs.

Computerized tomogram and MRI diagnostics

With such injuries, diagnostic measures are of great importance.

Firstly, an x-ray examination is performed in the cervical spine, which can reveal the rectification of the lordosis of the neck, indicating a sharp spasm of the muscles holding the neck.

At the age of the patient from 40 to 50 years, the detection of osteochondrosis and spondylosis is possible. These signs, however, should not be disoriented in relation to the development of vertebroneurological symptoms.

It should be taken into account that even in the absence of pathological changes on the radiograph, damage to the capsule intervertebral joint, cartilage, disc detachment from the end plate of the vertebra, rupture of ligaments and muscles, and presence hemarthrosis.

To identify pathological changes, a computer tomogram and MRI are assigned, which often do not reveal any visible changes.

With persistent pain symptomatology and rootlet sensitivity disorder, it is recommended that electroneuromyography be performed, which should rule out such disorders.

Tactics of treatment

All therapeutic methods to combat whiplash trauma involve the restoration of a full motor activity in the cervical region and restoration of a person's ability to work without complications and negative consequences.

Treatment of whiplash injury of the neck directly depends on the stage of injury and provides for a number of the following activities:

• the patient is assigned to wear a special orthopedic collar;
• medical and physiotherapy;
• manual therapy and massage;
• complex of physiotherapy exercises.

Fixing the neck with the help of an orthopedic (hard) collar relieves muscular load and helps restore damaged ligaments and tendons.

However, it is important to consider that the orthopedic collar is effective in the first 3 days after the injury, in the acute period of the disease.

With a longer use of orthosis, recovery in the cervical region slows down.

Drug therapy is aimed at removing swelling of tissues and reducing the inflammatory process. It includes the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs (Ibuprofen, Orthofen, Ketonal, etc.), as well as muscle relaxants (Baclofen, Midokalm, Meprothan, Flexin, etc.) and antidepressants.

Effective effect has an intramuscular injection of anesthetic (Lidocaine, Novocain, etc.) in the pain zone.

When providing emergency care, intravenous injection of Methylprednisolone (under the supervision of the doctor to avoid side effects) is done.

At appointment of physiotherapeutic measures at whiplash trauma cryotherapy, ultrasound and electrophoresis are performed.

These procedures stop pain symptoms, neutralize the inflammation process, speeding up tissue regeneration.

Therapeutic gymnastics accelerates the restoration of mobility in the intervertebral column.

In addition, LFK allows to remove the pathologically protective posture, strengthening of tendons and cervical ligaments.

Manual therapy and massage are aimed at removing the muscle block and spasm in the cervical section

Operative surgery is resorted to when absolutely necessary, when integrity is broken in whiplash injury.

In addition, during the therapeutic activities, it is necessary to resort to the services of a psychologist whose help is extremely important for the patient.

Possible complications after whiplash injury

When untimely referral to a doctor, severe trauma or untimely started therapy, a number of complications of whiplash injury are possible,among which may be:

• formation of intervertebral hernia and post-traumatic osteoarthritis;
• impaired vision and dysphagia (impaired swallowing);
• irradiating pain in the head and arms, accompanied by nausea and dizziness;
• if the neck is damaged, persistent pain in the back area may occur, due to increased load on the spinal column;
• development of depression and neurological disorders.

Changes in the spine (A) with post-traumatic arthrosis (B)

In order to maximally avoid the negative consequences of whiplash injuries, the patient is recommended for a long time after the injury to sleep on a low orthopedic pillow, try not to overturn your head too sharply, follow the correct posture, do not sit for a long time with your head tilted upwards, trying keep straight.

The rehabilitation period after the whiplash trauma is pursued by an integrated approach.

In addition to gymnastic exercises, swimming and underwater massage are recommended, but not earlier than 2-3 months after the main therapy.

Positive effect is provided by respiratory gymnastics, as well as the course of psychotherapeutic exercises.

It should be borne in mind that in people who have suffered a whiplash injury of the cervical region, the consequences can be unpredictable and last for a sufficiently long period of time.

Often develop posthlystovoy syndrome, in which clearly expressed disorders of neurotic character against a background of severe pain, inability to turn the cervical and the presence of the visual disorder.

At the same time the patient becomes aggressive, he develops an inferiority complex, accompanied by an unstable emotional background.

In order to avoid negative consequences and accelerate the recovery period for injuries in the cervical region (even minor), you should immediately contact the medical institution for diagnosis and prescribing therapeutic measures.

In most cases, timely treatment leads to a positive result.

A source: http://MoyaSpina.ru/bolezni/hlystovaya-travma-shei

Whiplash injury of the neck (cervical spine): treatment, consequences

Whiplash injury of the cervical spine is one of the most severe neck injuries, leading to severe consequences, up to the death of the victim.

Most often, an injury occurs during an accident.

Treatment of whiplash injury of the neck is very difficult and long.

There are no guarantees of success even in the simplest cases (although, with the whiplash fracture, it is hardly possible to use the term "simple").

As a rule, even with adequate therapy, it is impossible to completely restore the function of the cervical spine.

What is a whiplash injury?

The term "whiplash injury of the neck" is exclusively domestic. In fact, such injuries do not divide into subspecies, but are included in one general group of injuries, according to ICD-10. In ICD-10, a whiplash injury occurs under the code "S12" in the group of common neck injuries "S10-S19".

Whiplash injury occurs due to a sharp tipping of the neck

Most often, this damage occurs as a result of traffic accidents (at least 55% of all cases of whiplash injury in the neck).

Less often, damage occurs in domestic conditions (fall, sloppy movements and so on).

The reasons for obtaining

In addition to a car accident (accident) to the causes of whiplash injury of the neck can be attributed a few more situations.

When whiplash injuries occur extremely severe pain

Main reasons:

1. Road traffic accidents.
2. Injuries during sports (most often observed in professional athletes or vice versa in beginners, because of inexperience and insufficient level of training).
3. Fall, not necessarily on the head or neck - damage can occur simply because of sudden head movements from side to side when landing.
4. Strong blow to the head (including as a result of fights).

Typically, such a trauma requires a strong physical impact, but in some cases, relatively weak forces.

Consequences: what is dangerous?

The consequences of whiplash injury of the neck are extremely dangerous. Due to damage to the spinal column and surrounding tissues (including blood vessels), even a lethal outcome is possible.

The resulting fracture may be comminuted. Fragments can additionally damage surrounding tissues: lead to ruptures of muscles and blood vessels, damage to nerve nodes.

Injured with whiplash injury requires immobilization of the neck

Even with timely and adequate treatment, it is almost impossible to completely restore the functional of the spine to its original state.

That is, people who have suffered such trauma for the rest of their lives will have some or other problems with the neck.

The greater part of the patients have lifelong limitation of movements or their complete impossibility (this condition can be tried promptly, but this is extremely difficult and expensive).

Is it lethal?

Any injury to the cervical spine potentially and with a high probability is deadly.

In the case of whiplash injuries, the chances of a fatal outcome are quite high. But because of what it is concrete it is possible to be lost at a whiplash injury of the neck?

First, the trauma of the spine itself is dangerous. Spinal nerves, spinal cord, vessels of various sizes pass along the spine.

Their damage, or even more, the rupture is the cause of death in some cases.

Whiplash injuries are treated including with the help of physiotherapy

Secondly, fragments are dangerous, which can damage the vertebral arteries (two arteries pass just along the cervical region).

Damage to one artery with timely medical help can be stopped and saved by the patient.

The rupture of two arteries almost always ends with the death of the victim.

Thirdly, the postoperative period is dangerous. Getting a wound and treating it in a stationary environment is not really the end of the victim's suffering.

In the postoperative period, complications that are incompatible with life can develop, both as a result of the operation itself (perfect errors of the surgeons) and as a result of the specific trauma.

Clinical signs

The symptoms of whiplash injury in the cervical spine are quite diverse and can be either barely noticeable (both subjectively and objectively) and those that occur are extremely pronounced.

Even with slight damage, severe manifestations are possible, as well as with severe damage, moderate manifestations are possible for the first time.

Throughout the treatment of whiplash injuries, a collar is required

Symptoms of whiplash injury of the neck:

• pain, from moderate to unbearable (sometimes leading to painful shock);
• a significant increase in pain when moving head, until the loss of consciousness due to pain;
• visual impairment (loss of visual field fragments or complete extinction of peripheral / central vision, flashes before the eyes);
• attacks of nausea and incessant and not bringing relief vomiting;
• swelling of the neck from behind;
• hematoma in the damaged area;
• dizziness - in the victim the visible surrounding world "floats before the eyes the colors become as bright as possible, epileptic seizures are possible.

Often there are spasms, involuntary muscle contractions, cramps.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis of the damage is carried out by ambulance doctors directly at the place where the injured person was injured.

His condition is assessed, a survey is conducted of both the patient (if possible), and the witnesses of what happened.

Further in the conditions of a hospital, a detailed one is carried out. The first thing can be X-ray, and it can give basic information about the nature of the damage, but no details can be obtained from it.

In the rehabilitation period after the whiplash injury, massage is applied

For more informative use either computer or magnetic resonance imaging (without the use of contrast agents). MRI and CT helps to identify ligament ruptures and cartilage, fixes hemarthrosis (if any).

For the examination of lesions of nerve nodes, electroneuromyography is used, but this apparatus is not available in every hospital.

Treatment in hospital

In hospital conditions, a full-scale treatment of whiplash injury and its possible consequences is carried out. The first thing is orthopedic help: the cervical section is fixed with the help of a collar or corset.

They will need to be worn for 8 to 12 weeks, until the bones fully fuse

Further, drug therapy is carried out. It involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers (often narcotic drugs), decongestants and muscle relaxants.

If necessary, an operative procedure is performed to fix the vertebrae or remove the fragments.

To this end, rehabilitation with the help of physical therapy (LFK), physiotherapy and massage procedures begins.

A source: http://osankino.ru/travmy/hlystovaya-travma-shei.html

Injury of cervical spine, natal: treatment

About whiplash injury can be said when there is damage to the cervical spine, in which the ligamentous apparatus and intervertebral joints in the cervical region suffer.

The most common reason for this damage can be understood from its name.

Just as the whip makes a move to one side, and then sharply to the other, the whiplash injury of the neck occurs if the person's head leans forward quickly, and then jumps back sharply.

When there are injuries of the spine in the neck region, it is fraught not only with the rupture of the muscle and tendon tissue, dislocations and fractures of the cervical vertebrae.

Such damage is dangerous because during them there is a risk that the spinal cord will break. The most dangerous is damage in the area of ​​the 1st vertebra.

If you take into account the damage to the entire spine, the most harm to a person can bring exactly neck injuries.

Causes

A bruise of the cervical spine, in which there may be a rupture of ligaments or intervertebral discs, vertebral fracture and spinal cord injury, can occur for a number of reasons,among which:

1. Sudden falls;
2. Accidents during sports activities;
3. Car accident;
4. A sharp blow to the neck or along it;
5. Diving in shallow water bodies;
6. Natal trauma SHOP.

Most often, you can get the data of damage during an accident, especially if the vehicle brakes abruptly, or another car hits it from behind.

Suffer in this case can both the driver and the passenger car.

Mechanism of injury

Whiplash injury of the cervical spine occurs as follows - when there is a bruise of the neck, there is a strong neck tension, then the cervical section makes a sharp forward movement, after which the body returns to the previous position, and the head quickly returns back.

If the cause of the injury is a traffic accident, it does not matter where the passenger is sitting, damage equally happens to those who sit near the driver, and people sitting in the back seat.

Most often suffer those people who during the accident were wearing seat belts. The belts prevent head shots, but, alas, they do not save from a spinal injury in the neck section.

One can not say with certainty which damage to the body is more dangerous, so do not disregard seat belts in the hope of avoiding such damage in the event of an accident.

During the diving, spinal trauma occurs due to a blow to the head against the bottom, while the neck bends sharply. These injuries can occur in parallel with damage to the skull and brain structures.

Birth injury to the neck

Natal trauma of the cervical spine in newborns can occur during a complicated birth process.

This can happen if there is a discrepancy between the size of the fetus and the mother's pelvis, if the fetus occupies wrong position, or unqualified medical personnel take unacceptable actions extraction of the fetus.

Passing through narrow patrimonial paths, the child makes movements and turns with his head. At this time, all his body, and especially the neck, has a considerable load.

It happens that the birth process slows down and unskilled obstetricians, in order to reach the child faster, they begin to pull him by the head.

This can be dangerous for the weak tissues of the baby's neck.

In some cases, with mild damage, the symptoms of a cervical injury in a newborn child are not present, but more often the child has a lesion of spinal structures, respiratory disorders, circulatory disorders, swelling the brain.

In addition, there are symptoms such as child's flaccidity and paralysis of his hands.

Clinical picture

As during the damage of any other part of the body, with trauma to the cervical spine, painful sensations arise, the site of the localization of the lesion becomes edematic, and movements become difficult.

In addition to the main signs of neck damage, there are such symptoms:

• pain syndrome is localized not only in the neck, but also in the scapula, arm or nape;
• begins to feel dizzy;
• In the pharyngeal musculature, there are spasms that hinder swallowing and speech;
• in the upper and lower limbs paralysis occurs;
• Skin covers lose sensitivity;
• there is a disturbance of the respiratory system;
• pupils become narrower, the iris becomes turbid;
• in many internal organs failures occur.

With a severe degree of injury, spinal shock and severe spinal cord injury are possible, which leads to a delay or involuntary urination, a complete loss of sensitivity and reflexes.

These symptoms can remain forever, in almost a hundred percent of cases this condition becomes the cause of lifelong disability.

Effects

When there is a trauma to the cervical spine, the consequences are very sad.

After receiving an injury during childbirth, the child is subsequently noted to have:

1. osteochondrosis;
2. violations of fine motor skills of the hands;
3. hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder;
4. poor memory and impaired attention;
5. vegetative vascular dystonia;
6. frequent headaches;
7. increase in blood pressure.

Serious damage to the spinal cord causes diseases and disorders of almost all internal organs and human systems. If the victim survives, then disability is ensured to him.

First aid

If, after an accident, signs of a whiplash injury are noted, medical personnel should be called urgently. Meanwhile, the victim should be the first aid in case of trauma.

The slightest delay can cost a person not only health, but life. If help is not given on time, the vertebrae can shift, the vessels and spinal cord may be damaged.

If the inflow of blood to the brain is violated, then its cells will die within a couple of hours.To avoid this, you need to do the following:

• The victim is put on a hard and level surface, you can even on the floor;
• You can not allow a person to move his head if he is conscious;
• if the symptoms indicate that there is a fracture, any movement of the victim must be made by at least three people, necessarily supporting the neck and head;
• in the presence of bleeding it is necessary to take measures to eliminate it, for this the wound is covered with a sterile bandage, one arm rises and a bandage is applied, which grasps the arm and neck;
• On both sides of the neck, you need to put small soft rollers to prevent head turns.

Treatment is subject only to the skin around the wound. If a person is unconscious, you need to monitor his heartbeat and breathing.

A source: https://VseoTravmah.ru/stati/hlystovaya-travma-shei.html

Whiplash injury: causes of injury and choice of treatment

Whiplash injury of the neck is a pathology caused by damage to its ligaments and intervertebral joints due to sharp bending forward and rapid extension back, which, in some way, resembles a blow whip.

The name of the pathology was given by the American doctor N.Srowe, and she herself was discovered in 1928.

Causes of trauma

In general, the whiplash injury of the neck is a consequence of car accidents.

However, it can also be obtained with:

1. sports activities;
2. unexpected falls;
3. strong blows;
4. diving into the water.

Symptoms

Signs of pathology largely depend on the degree of its severity.

So, an easy whiplash injury can appear after a couple of hours or even days after the event leading to it.

The disease in this case is accompanied by neurologic manifestations - nausea, dizziness and numbness fingertips, however, as a rule, they are insignificant and pass through a short interval time.

Severe whiplash injury of the cervical spine manifests itself instantaneously. The patient feels a sharp pain in the neck, thoracic spine and lumbar region.

Then dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, impairment of body functions are added to this symptomatology.

Whiplash Injury: Diagnosis

As a rule, the detection of this type of injury is carried out through:

• interrogation of the patient;
• radiography;
• electroneuromyography;
• computer and magnetic resonance imaging.

Radiography in this case does not allow to assess the degree of trauma of soft tissues, however, it reveals concomitant pathologies - vertebral dislocations and fractures, deformation of the intervertebral hernia.

Magnetic resonance and computer tomography can detect degenerative changes occurring in tissues.

Electroneuromyography makes it possible to pinch or damage the nerve root.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the course, treatment of whiplash injury can be performed both conservatively and surgically.

The objectives of treatment in this case are:

1. reduction of pain;
2. restoration of mobility of the neck;
3. return of work capacity;
4. prevention of relapse.

Conservative treatment

In the vast majority of cases, conservative treatment implies:

• immobilization - wearing a specialized orthopedic collar for several days to reduce the burden on the neck in an acute period;
• drug therapy, which includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (both inside and outside) that reduce the severity inflammatory processes and reduce pain, as well as antidepressants, improving the quality of life of the patient with prolonged and pronounced symptomatology;
• physiotherapeutic procedures - cryotherapy, ultrasound treatment, electrophoresis, accelerating the recovery process and helping to relieve inflammation;
• therapeutic physical training (LFK), which allows to restore the motor functions of the spine and the pain prescribed after pain relief;
• manual therapy and massage, relieving muscle spasms;
• blockade, reducing pain and severity of inflammation.

In addition, patients who have suffered a whiplash injury are recommended:

1. keep a straight posture while walking, reading, writing, working at the computer;
2. sleep on a small elastic or medical orthopedic pillow;
3. three times a day rub off the affected area with ointments and analgesics;
4. Limit the tilting of the head and frequent turns of it from side to side.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is recommended in the following cases:

• violation of the integrity of the structures of the cervical spine;
• The inability to relieve symptoms with conservative therapy.

Rehabilitation

During the rehabilitation period, patients who have suffered a whiplash injury are assigned:

1. psychotherapy;
2. therapeutic and respiratory gymnastics;
3. swimming;
4. physiotherapy.

Rehabilitation is under the supervision of a doctor, changing the recommended procedures in a timely manner, depending on the degree of their effectiveness.

Complications

Not treated in time heavy whiplash injuries of the neck can lead to development:

• chronic depressive syndrome;
• attacks of aggression, which are of short duration;
• disturbances in sleep patterns (insomnia);
• increased irritability;
• post-traumatic osteochondrosis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• paralysis of the extremities.

In addition, patients can observe:

1. short-term memory loss;
2. violation of concentration of attention;
3. dependence on psychotropic drugs, developed against a backdrop of health problems.

That is why when traumatizing the cervical spine, you should immediately see a doctor, regardless of the degree of symptomatology.

Preventive measures

Prevention of whiplash injuries is, first of all, in their prevention.

Naturally, it is hard to foresee a fall, an accident, a fight or a blow.However, drivers can recommend the following:

• use seat belts;
• sit in the car seat in such a way that between the bottom of the steering wheel and the stomach, a fist, a headrest Located at the level of the middle of the nape, and with the back rest in the seat, and hands on the steering wheel - the latter stretched completely;
• sit straight.

Attention! To minimize the consequences of any injuries, when receiving them, you need to seek medical help from the appropriate institution.

Forecast

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the regression of symptoms caused by whiplash injuries of the neck occurs for 1-6 months after injury.

If to speak about improvement of a condition as a whole, at 60% of patients spontaneous convalescence comes in during the first year, 32% - during the subsequent, and 8% - the symptom becomes permanent.

A source: https://proartrit.ru/hlyistovaya-travma-shei/

Treatment of whiplash injuries

Most people at least once in their lives fell into small car accidents.

Who at least once stumbled during a game of football, volleyball or when descending from the stairs?

If no serious injuries were received, such incidents are usually quickly forgotten. Well, a day or two my neck and head ached, and all the consequences.

However, few people know that similar, shaking the entire body of traumatic injuries can cause many serious ailments and complications.

A large number of people are hospitalized for years, complaining of pain in the neck and chest, headaches and sleep disorders, ringing in the ears and dizziness, decreased attention and performance, pain in the heart area, dysfunction of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tract, many other ailments - and do not meet the understanding of doctors who did not reveal serious health abnormalities in the data patients.

In the vast majority of cases, the cause of such health problems is the consequences of externally imperceptible damage that the body receives in so-called whiplash injuries.

Whiplash injuryIs instant acceleration or inhibition applied to the body of a person not ready for such an event.

As a result of a sharp shift in body structures, damage to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and even nerve roots is possible.

Usually this term is used in relation to the cervical spine, but damage is possible in other parts of the spine.

Whiplash injuries are also dangerous because they have an externally insignificant effect on the entire body, causing long-term deviations in the work of its main systems.

Each of the people in his life repeatedly received whiplash injuries, without even knowing about it.

A typical example is an unexpected impact on the car from behind, from the side or from the front.

The seat belt keeps the body from sudden jerk and saves from noticeable local damage (a person does not break the chest on the steering wheel or forehead against the glass, all energy is extinguished by the seat belt).

But the excessive energy of impact does not disappear without a trace: it is redistributed to the skeleton, ligaments, muscles, fascia and internal organs of man.

As a result, a systemic lesion of the whole organism occurs, capable of disturbing the balance of physiological and anatomical mechanisms.
Thus, for the occurrence of whiplash injury, two factors are necessary:

1. Sharp acceleration (unexpected impact as a result of an accident, sports injuries, falls, etc.).
2. Abrupt braking.

The human body is able for a sufficiently long time to compensate for various mechanical effects, but when the possibility of adaptation of functional systems is exhausted, even a minor injury leads to the formation of symptoms of serious osteopathic lesion.

In addition, the formation of disorders, important for the body processes can develop gradually and in fully manifest themselves months or even years after receiving the injury (the so-called deferred injury).

Serious, clinically significant whiplash injury is accompanied by a number of symptoms, allowing immediately and almost certainly to speak about the presence of lesions.

Among them there are: confused consciousness and dizziness, ringing in the ears, difficulty breathing, tingling and numbness in body parts, etc. The more such manifestations, the higher the probability of subsequent development of the clinical picture of whiplash injury.

As a rule, the reaction of a living organism to a trauma is longer and can cause changes at the cellular level within a month. At this point, the balance and balance in the body are completely disturbed.

In muscles and tendons biochemical changes occur, leading to their shortening.

If the traumatic force exceeds the compensatory mechanisms of the body, then there are bone fractures, ligament ruptures.

If the force is less, the tissues are often subjected to fibrosis, deformations and various fixations.
Let us consider in more detail the mechanisms of the development of the pathological consequences of whiplash injuries and the osteopathic methods for their diagnosis and treatment.

Spasmodic muscle and ligaments.

With a sudden acceleration (inhibition) of a person, internal organs continue to move by inertia, causing tension and tension of the muscular and ligamentous apparatus by means of which these organs are attached to skeleton.

After the termination of traumatic influence the tone of muscles and ligaments returns to normal, but not always.

With a strong impact, part of the internal muscles and ligaments is injured with the formation of their spasm, which causes the emergence of various dysfunctions in the body.

If the DC voltage persists for several months, fibrous tissue tightening begins.

The process of fibrosis is often accompanied by pain and inflammation of the affected muscles and ligaments, and these disorders lead to dysfunctions of the internal organs associated with them.

Reducing, spasmodic muscles and ligaments change the position of the internal organs supported by them, which leads to the twisting of the vascular-neural formations, disrupting the function of these organs.

If we consider that each internal organ is attached to a whole system of ligaments, the range of possible consequences is not actually limited. Here, disorders of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract (various digestive dysfunction, constipation, etc.), the genitourinary sphere, chronic pelvic pain, and many others manifestations.

Whiplash injury can be mild and severe.

Whiplash injury of mild degree occurs with a not very severe traumatic agent. The pain manifests itself within the first 6 hours after the injury and gradually increases. Clinically manifested by a variety of neurological symptoms disappearing after a few days.

With a severe impact, severe tissue trauma occurs.

Severe whiplash injury is manifested by severe pain, neuralgia of different localization (suboccipital, thoracic, lumbar level), a vivid clinical picture of vascular disturbances in the vertebrobasilar basin (dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting).

In severe whiplash injuries or prolonged pain syndromes, an x-ray examination of the cervical and lumbosacral sections is performed spine, as well as additionally used in diagnosis of modern methods of neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging, computer tomography).

Osteopathic correction of problems caused by whiplash injury.

All the organs and systems of man are constantly in motion, and tensions and spasms distort the picture that characterizes a healthy organism.

After examining the patient, the osteopath (manual therapist) determines what is wrong in the direction of the stress rays and where the "primary osteopathic dysfunction then applying special techniques, relieves stress and spasms, simultaneously restoring normal biomechanics in organs and systems of the body.

Muscles and ligaments relax, restoring their optimal tone, and the osteopath (manual therapist) gently moves the organs and tissues, helping them to occupy a normal functional position.

In the treatment of the consequences of whiplash injury, paramount importance is given to the release of the blocked elements of the craniosacral system (sacrum, the dura mater, the bones and seams of the skull, the membranes of reciprocal tension), since the cervical and lumbar dysfunction will be adaptive.

Then the parts of the most deformed tissues are worked out. In the beginning, as a rule, soft fascial techniques are used to restore the normal circulation of liquids, then structural liberation.

One of the typical consequences of a whiplash injury is dysfunction of the occipital bone and its sutures.

Because of the sharp movement of the head at the time of impact, the occipital bone is displaced relative to the temporal bones, fixing in a new position (flexion or extensia), pulling and twisting the membranes of the brain.

Displacement is insignificant, that infringement of mobility of bones of a skull not to the expert is absolutely imperceptible.

Nevertheless, fixation of the occipital bone with whiplash injuries is the cause of many serious complications (headaches, dizziness, pain in the cervical-occipital transition, decreased vision, hearing, etc.).

An osteopathic physician, using the methods of cranio-sacral therapy, removes blocks in the bones and seams of the skull restoring their natural mobility.

After the disappearance of the stress of the dura mater and other membranes of reciprocal tension, the negative consequences caused by them are gradually neutralized.

Further, as a rule, equilibration of the median, pelvic diaphragms, upper aperture, spheno-basilar symphysis and then a common occipital-sacral equilibration is performed.

Thus, with properly chosen tactics and precise execution of cranio-sacral, fascial and structural (osteopathic) techniques, the consequences of a whiplash injury can be eliminated in one or two visits to an osteopath doctor (manual therapist).

A source: http://www.osteopat-amur.ru/node/38