Whiplash and back injuries are suffered by most victims involved motor vehicle accident. Over 200 million people suffer from whiplash in U.S. Rear impact motor vehicle accident can cause sudden abnormal motion in the neck.

1. Motor Vehicle Accident
and Injuries

2. • Whiplash and back injuries are suffered by most victims
involved motor vehicle accident.
• Over 200 million people suffer from whiplash in U.S. Rear impact
motor vehicle accident can cause sudden abnormal motion in
the neck.
• The word whiplash stands for damage of the bone as well as
tissue.
• Even though whiplash is not a life treating injury, it may lead to
partial disability for a prolonged time. After the motor vehicle
accident, most of the people recover from whiplash injuries in
a reasonable amount of time. In some cases, patient may
continue to have the symptoms years after injury.
Introduction

3. • Whiplash injuries are caused by rear
impact motor vehicle accident. The
force from the impact causes the
person’s torso to move forward while
the unrestrained head and neck falls
back.
• This puts the neck in a hyper extension
position. Studies indicate that after the
motor vehicle accident lower cervical
vertebrae are forced in to a
hyperextension position while the
upper cervical vertebrae is forced to
a hyperflexed position and causes the
cervical spine to assume a ‘S’ shape
which is totally abnormal.
• It also causes damages to
muscles, ligaments and facet capsule
which hold the cervical vertebrae
together.
What causes whiplash?

4. What are symptoms?
The symptoms include neck pain, headache, shoulder
pain and stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain and
weakness, visual disturbances and rigging in ears.
In severe cases it may lead to
depression, anger, frustration, anxiety, stress, insomnia
and many other symptoms

5. • It is very crucial to educate the patients about the injury.
• The patient should be educated about the
cause, symptoms, treatment methods and possible
outcomes.
• Patient who does not receive this information are most
likely to develop farther whiplash associated chronic
disorders
Educating Patient

6. • Your doctor may prescribe a soft cervical collar. This is to
avoid any farther injuries.
• It is very important to start moving as soon as possible
since immobilization can cause long recovery period.
• It also causes muscle atrophy, reduced blood flow and
delays healing of damaged muscles tissue.
• Engaging in ROM exercises has proved to improve
symptoms. Physical therapy will help you to regain the
strength of the muscles as well as reduce pain motion
Treatment

7. • Back Injuries which causes chronic
pain are the worst and most
prevalent injury suffered by the
victims involved in car accident.
• Ten percent of these car accident
back injuries can lead to long term
pain and disability in those
affected.
• Motor vehicle accident can cause
herniated disc, spinal cord
injuries, and compression fractures
Back Injuries

8. • Low impact motor vehicle accident can cause sprain or
strains. Sprain occurs when one the ligaments are
stretched, twisted or torn.
• The jerky motion during the motor vehicle accident causes
it to happen.
• Muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibers are stretched
or torn. The symptoms include stiffness, bruising, muscle
soreness, numbness or tingling
Sprains and strains

9. • Our spine is made of 33 vertebrae that are stacked up on top of
one another.
• There is a rubbery piece of cartilage between these vertebrae and
is called the intervertebral disk.
• Imagine disk as a tire with gelatin kind of substance on the hole of
the tire. The tire (outer part) is called the annulus and the gelatin
type of substance is called the nucleus Motor vehicle accident
causes the discs to slip from its place or to rupture.
• As a result, the space the vertebrae decreases and the disk
becomes flatter and less flexible .
• When the rough surface of the vertebral joint rub
together, inflammation occurs and may feel pain as the nerves get
compressed or irritated. It may occur throughout the spine or may
confine to one disk. In several cases, since the nerve gets
compressed, it may lead to sciatica which is experience by
numbness, tingling and even weakness in arms and legs.
Herniated Disc

10. • Motor vehicle accident can cause compression fractures.
It usually occurs among the older adults.
• The force of the impact may create tiny cracks on the
bones which will eventually result in deformity or collapsing
of bone.
• Symptoms of compression fracture include difficulty in
breathing and change in posture.
Compression Fractures

11. • In most cases physical therapy is the best choice to
reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent disability.
Patients should be referred to a physical therapist as soon
as possible, as delaying can cost them long recovery
period. Recovery starts with physical therapy. At Maya
physical therapy our compassionate physical therapist
understands the traumatic experience you had to go
through and will strive to give you the best therapy to get
you back to normal activities.
Come and See us!