Medically termed as Cervical Acceleration Deceleration Syndrome, a whiplash occurs when the head is rapidly thrust backward and then forward. A common car accident injury, whiplash mostly occurs when a motor vehicle is rear ended. The cervical spine is subjected to extreme forces during the collision which cause it to be injured.
The pain that you suffer after a whiplash can be due to a tear in the cartilage in your neck or from a herniated disk. You could also tear a ligament or muscle due to your whiplash. These tears could lead to either a dull or a sharp pain, depending on the extent of your injury and how old your whiplash is.
Though the symptoms of a whiplash may not start immediately and sometimes can take more than 24 hours to develop, a whiplash if left untreated can lead to chronic pain and several complications. Which also means you should get to a car accident injury chiropractor immediately after a car crash.
But what if there was some way that you could actually avoid a whiplash? Yes, you heard that right. There are several measures you can adopt when on the road to keep you safe from injury.
Follow these three tips that will help you protect your neck and head from being injured during a car accident.
- Wear a Seatbelt, Always
So how exactly does a seatbelt work during a car accident? A seatbelt works to hold your body in place when another vehicle rear ends from behind. That is why it should be worn correctly, right across the chest. If worn incorrectly it can cause more harm than really acting as a safety device to save you from injury during a car collision. It makes good sense for the driver as well as the passengers to wear a seatbelt each time they are ready to hit the road. A seat belt has been known to have saved innumerable lives during a car crash.
- Drive Safely
It has been found that one of the main causes of whiplash on the road is speeding. When you’re driving at a high speed you may lose control of your vehicle and collide with something at a great force. This impact can strain the muscles and tendons of your neck leading to a whiplash. Also, while speeding you may brake hard to save yourself from hitting an object or human, and that force could injure you and result in a whiplash. Being alert at all times while driving and keeping an eye out for vehicles approaching you from behind can save you from injury and pain.
- Adjust Your Headrest
Never downplay the role of a headrest in your car. It is there for a purpose. When you collide with something or someone rear ends your vehicle, your seat pushes against your back forcing your body to be thrown forward. But initially your head is not thrust forward along with your body. The head is instead forced backwards. At this moment when your head is thrown backwards if there is no headrest to support it, the impact will subject your cervical spine to immense pressure which eventually most times results in a whiplash. A properly positioned headrest can save your head and neck from severe injury.
Obviously, there is no way that you can predict a car accident to prevent yourself from being injured. But by following the above three measures you can for sure prevent your neck from a severe whiplash and also save yourself from sustaining some sort of a serious cervical spine injury.
For more information on how to reduce whiplash and naturally treat it, you can schedule a consultation with our car accident injury chiropractor in Miami at 305-928-2828.
