Whiplash & how to minimise risk
By Steven Orton DO

Whiplash is the name given to a range of problems following injury to the soft tissue (muscles & ligaments etc) of the neck. In 1996, 106 million work days where lost as a result of whiplash and its associated problems.

The most common cause of whiplash is being hit from behind. The car hitting you will transmit all its force to your car.

The car may move forward but your head will be thrown backwards by the impact. The momentum this builds up will cause your head to go forward again - creating the whiplash.

The body tries to stop this sudden movement, muscles contract, but the force involved from the impact is over- powering and strains the involved tissue.

Symptoms involved can vary but include -
o Neck pain
o Headache
o Shoulder pain
o Vertigo
o Low back pain
o Arm and hand pain/pins and needles
and many more serious complications.

As an osteopath I regularly treat whiplash and its complications - a large number are due to road traffic accidents but this is not the only cause. Any situation where your head is thrown around can induce a type of whiplash It does not have to involve being hit from behind - it could be from any direction.
If you have ever ridden a horse, played a contact sport or even banged your head badly it is possible you have given yourself a form of whiplash. The symptoms don't always demonstrate themselves immediately - it could be years before they start to be a problem.

Just because you have been hit from behind does not mean you automatically have whiplash - car seat design has improved dramatically in terms of safety. The modern car provides us with numerous tools to protect our selves, but no matter how many "toys" our car seats come with, they are only as effective as the person using them.
Since you bought your car, how many times have you changed your seating position, or adjusted the headrest? The fact you are reading this article means you are interested in your health, however, do you remember this every time you get in the car to nip to the shops?

Although you canít allow for someone driving into the back of you, if you spend a few minutes looking at and adjusting your seat you increase the protection your car can give you. Here are just a few basics.

Do you slouch?
If yes, the seat can't do its job properly. If you drive in a poor position it is not good for the mechanics of your spine.

Is an elbow resting on the window ledge or on the gear stick?
If so you are twisted,in the event of an accident any whiplash will be compounded by this twist.

Is your headrest the right height?
If you left the headrest where it was when you bought the car CHECK IT NOW. A poorly-positioned headrest not only will not do its job in an accident but it could actually compound the problem.

Do you have enough headroom?
If you have too little not only could you find yourself trying to duck all the time, but in the event of an accident this poor position will again compound problems.

How far do you sit from your wheel?
Too far and you struggle to turn, too close and you might have hit the wheel before your airbag could deploy! The best thing to do is sit in the car with your arms outstretched over the wheel - your wrists should be touching the top of the wheel.

Driving is not a natural position for us to be in. This simple exercise will help you in the event of an accident by optimising your car's protection, it will also make it less of a strain on the body.

Also, remember no matter how minor an accident may seem whiplash can occur. Get yourself checked out, not for litigious reasons, but for your own health's sake. If left the problems are much harder to deal with, and more uncomfortable for you.