The notorious Highveld showers having come with a vengeance this past rainy season, have wreaked havoc in many ways and forms… one form that I’d like to mention is the ‘Whiplash’ injury. Can one sustain this type of injury from rainfall…? Not directly, but some of us are noted for driving dangerously on wet roads (but we won’t point fingers here), and this often results in Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA’s).
Whiplash is commonly associated with MVA’s, usually when the vehicle has been hit from the rear, however, the injury can be sustained in many other ways, including falls from height, rugby tackles etc.
‘Whiplash’ is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension.
Whiplash injuries are associated with varying degrees of pain to the neck and back, referred pain to the shoulders, sensory (Spinal cord) disturbances (such as pins and needles or heaviness) to the arms & legs and headaches. Symptoms can appear directly after the injury, but often are not felt until days (or even years) afterwards. Whiplash injuries are commonly graded from 1 – 5 depending of the presentation of the associated symptoms.
Treatment following a whiplash injury includes:
Seeing a physiotherapist or doctor as soon as possible (within 24hours) after injury. They will assess the extent of your injury by conducting: an injury history, a head and neck examination, and referral for X-rays to rule out any neck bone fractures.
A doctor will prescribe medication for pain, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants (maximum use of 3 weeks) and a neck soft collar (never longer than 72 hours as it may lead to prolonged inactivity).
Physiotherapy may in the acute stage include ice/heat/electro therapies to relieve pain and muscle tension. Soft tissue and joint mobilisations with appropriate exercises (for range of motion and strength), will also be used later as indicated. Encouragement to return to normal activities of daily living as soon as possible to maximize and expedite full recovery is our main aim after resolution of symptoms.
The consequences of whiplash range from mild pain for a few days (which is the case for most people), to severe disability caused by restricted head movements of the cervical spine, sometimes with persistent pain. Therefore, to ensure long term recovery and that the neck, upper back and shoulders do not become chronically painful, stiff and possibly debilitating, it is necessary to receive a course of quality physiotherapy care and be diligent in adhering to the rehabilitation and exercise program prescribed.
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Neck injuries