Prognosis of Whiplash Injuries
This is one of the more frequent questions and one that is difficult to answer. If we look at current research, we can find risk factors that may point to a more prolonged healing time, but this all varies from person to person. Whiplash is more about physics than anything else. The modern epidemic of whiplash stems more from a “stiffer’ car than anything else. In the not too past ‘old days” the cars took more of the impact, now with bumpers integrated into the “look” of the car it’s the passenger and not the car that suffers. As much as I love my mustang, I have to say I’m not crazy, (from a treatment standpoint), of modern bumpers.
So what are the risk factors? In no order of importance: Head turned, prior injury, prior headaches, prior neck pain, inadequate head rests, poor position in car, arthritis, advanced age, disc disease, shoulder harness, rear impact, non-failure of seat, (again the passenger takes the brunt of the damage), female gender and non-awareness.
Please note on the list prior injuries and disc disease. Anyone in an accident wants a quick outcome, as does my clinic. The risk factors are just those. Some people will have multiple factors and still have a quick outcome, it really is in the physics of how the occupants were placed in the vehicle. More “junk science” has been done on whiplash than most any type of injury. If we could look at risk factors, the physics of the accident and do all we can to address the injuries, the junk science would go the way of the dinosaur.
be well,
Dr. Hayes
