Patients often ask your Pensacola Chiropractor whether whiplash due to an auto accident can cause a concussion? First let us define both whiplash and concussion. Many people involved in automobile accidents end up being diagnosed with whiplash. As stated in our previous blog: “According to the Mayo Clinic, “Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.”
For more information read this article written about whiplash by Your Pensacola Chiropractor. This forceful and rapid movement of the neck can also cause a concussion. According to the CDC, “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury- or TBI- caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.” You can click here for more information about concussions. As you can see both injuries can result from an impact, which causes the neck to move rapidly back and forth and in worst cases, causes the brain to bounce in the skull.
Here at Gilmore Chiropractic, we often explain to our patients that a forceful impact during an auto accident can definitely be intense enough to cause a concussion. Concussions occur often and the United States estimates there were about 3.8 million cases annually. The effects of which can be very serious if it goes untreated. The signs and symptoms for diagnosing a concussion are strikingly similar to those for whiplash-which is the main reason this type of injury is still massively misunderstood. Some of the shared symptoms between concussion and whiplash are as follows: headaches, neck pain, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, and unsteadiness.
Most people associate concussions to contact sports, such as football, rugby, boxing, and soccer. However, auto accidents can result in a collision causing your body to suddenly stop but your head does not. Whether that is because your car has been rear-ended by another car or impacted with solid structure – the sudden impact can cause a very similar outcome as when a player is tackled during a contact sport. Your Pensacola Chiropractor highly recommends seeking follow up treatment after any accident because the symptoms of both whiplash and concussions do not often appear immediately after the accident – symptoms can take up to days following a car or auto accident to manifest.
A neurological exam should be conducted to check your vision, hearing, strength, balance, and reflexes to determine if a TBI is present. It is important to note there are three levels of concussions: As described by Mayfield Clinic, “Concussions are graded by severity: Grade 1: no loss of consciousness, amnesia is absent or present for less than 30 minutes. Grade II: loss of consciousness for less than five minutes and amnesia for between 30 min and less than 24 hours. Grade III: loss of consciousness for more than five minutes or amnesia for more than 24 hours.” Click the following link to read more about concussion diagnosis and symptoms.
If you are at all concerned you may be suffering from the symptoms of a concussion, please make an appointment with your primary care doctor immediately. For treatment and relief from your car or auto accident injuries, please contact Gilmore Chiropractic! Your Pensacola Chiropractor is serving patients with auto related injuries. Give us a call and our office will get you back on the road of recovery and total body wellness.
I think that the trapezius and the levator scapulae are affected in whiplash. I suggest these two muscles since whiplash affects the movement of the head and neck. The trapezius begins at the occipital bone of the bead and inserts on the clavicle (acromiom) and along the scapula. The levator scapulae begins at the transverse process of the the cervical vertebrae and inserts along the scapula as well. A cranial nerve test that can be used to see the effects of whiplash would be cranial test 5. I read where whiplash can affect the chewing and jaw movement of a… Read more »
Two muscles that I believe can be affected by whiplash are the sternomastoid and trapezius. The insertion point of the sternomastoid at the mastoid process at the base of the skull. The origin of this muscle is at both the manubrium of the sternum and the clavicle. The origination of the trapezius is ranging from the occipital bone of the skull down the neck to the spinous processes of T1-T12. The insertion points include the clavicle, acromium, and the scapula. I would have the patient perform crania nerve text for cranial nerve XI, which is associated with shoulder movement similar… Read more »