| What causes whiplash? Whiplash occurs when the | | | | exercise the head and neck muscles. Place the ball |
| soft tissue in the spine is stretched and strained after | | | | between the wall and the forehead and then try to |
| the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. The injury | | | | move it around on the wall in circles or figures of |
| most commonly occurs in car crashes involving | | | | eights. Repeat the exercise, this time placing the ball |
| sudden deceleration, but the injury can also occur in | | | | between the back of the head and the wall. |
| other strenuous physical activities such as diving. | | | | How does a doctor diagnose whiplash? |
| What does whiplash feel like? | | | | Usually the diagnosis is made on the basis of the |
| The most frequent complaints are headaches and | | | | background of the injury and the patient's description |
| stiffness in the neck and the back of the head. These | | | | of symptoms. Whiplash cannot be seen on an MRI |
| symptoms appear within the first couple of days after | | | | scan, CT scan or X-ray, although an X-ray is taken if |
| the accident and usually pass after a few days to a | | | | there is a suspicion of fracture or dislocation of the |
| few weeks. | | | | cervical spine. |
| Is whiplash dangerous? | | | | Exercise |
| A doctor or hospital should be alerted if the patient | | | | Research has shown that whiplash patients who rest |
| experiences memory loss or periods of | | | | for several weeks and wear a soft collar actually |
| unconsciousness after a collision. This is especially the | | | | recover more slowly than those who try to follow a |
| case if the patient experiences severe pains in the | | | | normal routine. |
| back of the head, pins and needles in the shoulders | | | | Patients with acute pain in the cervical region of the |
| and arms or notices a sensation of heaviness in the | | | | spine are advised to start their neck exercises as |
| arms. | | | | soon as possible and to get out of bed within two to |
| Is there anything the patient can do about whiplash | | | | three days. |
| injury? | | | | Outlook |
| In the first 24 hours after the injury, an ice bag applied | | | | The risk of sustained after-effects is very small and |
| to the neck will help to relieve inflammation. | | | | the chances for complete recovery are good. |
| Bags of frozen peas make particularly good ice packs | | | | However, whiplash is still a strain injury and, as with |
| because they mould to the body. | | | | other strain injuries, it is not unusual for the pain to last |
| An ice bag should first be wrapped in a towel or cloth | | | | for a couple of months. |
| to avoid direct contact between the skin and the ice. | | | | Whiplash syndrome |
| The patient should lie in bed with their head resting on | | | | A few people develop continuing symptoms after a |
| the ice bag for 20 minutes at a time, with the head | | | | whiplash trauma and develop what is known as |
| also supported by a pillow. | | | | whiplash syndrome. They suffer continual headaches |
| If normal painkillers such as paracetamol (eg Panadol) | | | | and pain, reduced movement at the back of the neck, |
| do not help, consult your GP. | | | | tingling in the arms, lumbar pains, fatigue, sleep |
| Here's an exercise to relieve pain and stiffness in the | | | | disruptions and reduced libido. |
| neck and back of the head. | | | | Whiplash syndrome is difficult to treat. The essence of |
| - Stand against a door or a wall with your head facing | | | | the treatment is to prevent any further strain and |
| forward and move your eyes so you look towards | | | | encourage a quick return to normal everyday activities. |
| the two, four, eight, and 10 o'clock positions. Repeat this | | | | Unfortunately, in a very small number of people who |
| a few times. This eye movement causes a slight | | | | have experienced a severe whiplash injury, symptoms |
| movement in some deep muscles in the back of the | | | | can persist for months or even years before settling |
| head. | | | | and even then there can even be residual long-term |
| - Next, take a step forward and perform the following | | | | neck discomfort. |
| movements. | | | | How is whiplash treated? |
| - Bend the back of the head carefully forward as if | | | | There is no single treatment for whiplash that is widely |
| taking a bow. Return to the starting position with your | | | | accepted among doctors. |
| head straight and facing forward. | | | | If there is no suspicion of a fracture or dislocation, the |
| - Draw the chin in towards your neck and bend the | | | | patient should begin exercising and pursuing normal |
| head carefully forward. Return to the starting position. | | | | activities as soon as possible. In some cases it may be |
| Bend the head backwards far enough to look at the | | | | necessary to supplement an exercise programme with |
| ceiling. Return to the starting position. | | | | painkillers. |
| - Tilt the head sideways, so the right ear is near the | | | | Further advice on exercise and recovery can be |
| right shoulder. If possible try to maintain the glance at a | | | | sought from a physiotherapist or chiropractor. For |
| fixed point at eye level. Return to the starting position. | | | | most people the injury will simply pass after a short |
| Repeat this action with the head tilted to the other side. | | | | period. |
| - Turn the head as if trying to look backwards over | | | | What medication can be used to treat whiplash? |
| the shoulder, first to the left and then to the right. | | | | Paracetamol (eg Panadol) and NSAIDs (non-steroidal |
| Imagine following a horizontal line on the wall at eye | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs) can be given for short periods |
| level. | | | | for pain in the back of the neck and headaches. A |
| - You can also use a beach ball or a soft ball to | | | | doctor should be consulted first. |