Over 6 million cars are involved in motor vehicle accidents each year in the United States. These collisions cause an estimated 42,000 deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board says that if it weren’t for seatbelts and airbags, the number of deaths due to car accidents would be considerably more.
Whiplash is often a result of car accidents, even those involving vehicles moving at relatively low speeds. In a whiplash type accident, the head is forced in the direction of the impact, slung into the opposite direction, and then back towards the impact site. This often causes symptoms in the area of the head and neck. Some of the main complaints are pain and aching to the neck and back, referred pain to the shoulders, sensory disturbance (such as pins and needles) to the arms & legs, headaches, and TMJ pain. Symptoms can appear directly after the injury, but more often, they are not felt until days afterwards. (Krafft, M; Kullgren A, Lie A, Tingval C (2005-04-01) "Assessment of Whiplash Protection in Rear Impacts”)
It is important to always seek care from a qualified physician if you experience any signs or symptoms of whiplash after an accident. Even a mild stiffness can linger for months or worsen into intermittent or even constant pain. Chiropractors are a great choice for whiplash injuries because they focus on treating the spine and the soft tissues involved in these accidents.