Whiplash Trauma an Epidemic in Our Society!

Whiplash

Whiplash is a term widely used to describe the kinds of injuries sustained by motor vehicle accident victims whose cars were struck from behind. Whiplash trauma has been called an epidemic in our society, costing countless billions each year in health care expenditure, lost productivity and insurance claims. The real tragedy of whiplash, however, is the chronic pain and suffering experienced by many whiplash victims even years later. As chiropractic care is vital to obtaining the best possible outcome following whiplash trauma, we encourage patients to learn as much as they can about the nature of their problem. The following questions will help sharpen your knowledge of whiplash.

True Or False

1. There is little or no evidence that significant, long-standing physical damage occurs to the victims of rear impact motor vehicle accidents.

FALSE: Studies conclude degenerative changes such as spondylosis and osteoarthritis occur in the cervical spines (necks) of those injured in whiplash accidents in 40-60% of cases compared to only 6% of age and sex matched controls. In other words, whiplash victims are 6 to 10 times more likely to develop degenerative spinal conditions. These degenerative changes are significant in that they can impair mobility, produce pain and discomfort and may cause permanent and progressively detrimental effects on the nervous system. They are, however, in many cases reversible if correct treatment is administered early. Call our office if you would like more information about optimum treatment for whiplash injuries.

2. Headrests should be positioned so that the top of the headrest is at earlobe level, and the headrest is at least two inches from the back of the head.

FALSE: Correct positioning of the headrest is such that the top of headrest should be between the top of the ear and top of the head, and there should be no more than two inches between the back of the head and the headrest. The height positioning is important in order to limit the "ramping" effect that can occur in rear-impact collisions. Ramping occurs when the head is violently accelerated up and over the head restraint, resulting in greatly amplified shear forces on the neck and cervical spine. Similarily, studies show that headrests positioned more than two inches away from the back of head offer virtually no protection in rear-end collisions.

3. The forces generated in a 15 m.p.h. rear impact collision are equivalent to falling from a chair.

FALSE: Surprising though it sounds, the forces generated in a 15 m.p.h. rear impact collision are equivalent to falling from the top of a two story building! This is the reason why very low speed rear impact collisions can produce significant soft tissue injury, even when little damage was incurred to either vehicle.

If you or anyone you know has been in an auto accident or you think may have suffered a whiplash type injury please call Windmill Health Center.

For a consultation or more information you can reach Dr. Browner & Dr. Behar at Windmill Health Center, Weston 954-217-4881. We also have two additional locations to serve you in Pembroke Pines and Plantation, contact our Weston location for more information.

How to Keep Healthy and Fit Back!

Fitness means very different things to different people. Our notions of being fit range from daily walking, to gardening, to working each day at a manual job or playing golf twice a week. For some, being fit means nothing less than marathon running and triathlons. No matter how fit we perceive ourselves to be, one weakness common to most all of us is back fitness.

What is back fitness? A fit back requires balance between these five key components:

Strength - particularly the muscles of your lower back and abdomen. These “core” muscle groups are notoriously weak, and make us especially vulnerable to back strains.

Endurance - again, the back extensor and abdominal muscles need the most attention. Studies have shown that these muscles are some of the weakest and most easily fatigued in the body, and can show the most significant gains in strength and endurance when exercised properly.

Flexibility - particularly important is hip flexor and hamstring muscle length, as well as various muscle groups of the lower back. There are many good books on stretching, or ask your chiropractor for exercises specific to your needs.

Posture - one can have good back strength, endurance and flexibility but still be lacking back fitness because of poor structural alignment. Correct posture is critical to having a fit, healthy back. Spinal discs, joints, muscles and ligaments can only function correctly if posture is normal. Your chiropractor can show you specific exercises to improve your posture.

Spinal Function - A truly fit and healthy back requires a spine that has normal alignment and position, and that moves correctly. This is the only component of back fitness that we cannot remedy ourselves. Chiropractic doctors are the best-qualified health professionals for assessment and treatment of spinal functional disorders. Through a thorough examination of your spine and associated structures, your chiropractor can determine if your spine is positioned and functioning correctly. Safe, effective chiropractic treatment can then be provided, enabling your back to perform to its potential.

So before telling someone how fit you are, think back to these five components: do you really measure up?

For a consultation or more information you can reach Dr. Browner & Dr. Behar at Windmill Health Center, Weston 954-217-4881. We also have two additional locations to serve you in Pembroke Pines and Plantation, contact our Weston location for more information.