Whiplash associated disorder is a common musculoskeletal injury caused by a rushed impact, jolting one’s head forward or to the side sending energy to the cervical spine. Most common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, pain in one or both arms, pain between the shoulder blades and low back pain. Other symptoms consist of dizziness, ringing in the ears, anxiety, vision changes, fatigue, poor concentration, headache and difficulty sleeping. The most common cause for whiplash is a motor vehicle accident. A series of human volunteer crash tests conducted in San Diego reported that the threshold for soft tissue injury was only five miles per hour. Many individuals walk away from a car accident not realizing they have been injured until days or even weeks later.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, during a whiplash injury, Qi stagnation and blood stasis occur. This leads to damage of the tendons and muscles, along with abnormal joint movement. Acupuncture, and sometimes cupping therapy, gets the Qi flowing and the blood moving throughout the body. These therapies have been found to be very effective in alleviating all of the symptoms of whiplash and helping to accelerate the healing process. Even auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) has been found to be effective at alleviating symptoms post whiplash. Many studies listed below show support to the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine for whiplash.
SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF WHIPLASH: A CASE STUDY
In 2016, in a case study conducted by Connie Presson, L.Ac, Dipl OM,
a 36 year old patient was experiencing neck, upper back, and rib-side
pain, tension, and stiffness after a motor vehicle accident. She was
treated with acupuncture and cupping twice a week for eight weeks along
side Chiropractic and massage therapy. At the end of her treatment cycle,
the patient was fully recovered from her injuries. Regular follow-up visits
revealed no rebound pain. Read more here http://www.meridiansjaom.com.
OTHER STUDIESA Case Report On The Acupuncture Treatment Of Whiplash Associated DisorderTreatment of Whiplash Injuries of the Cervical Spine with AcupunctureTraditional Acupuncture Treatment for Whiplash SyndromeStatistical Analysis of 4 Types of Neck Whiplash Injuries Based on Classical Meridian TheoryTreatment of Whiplash Injuries with Acupuncture
References:
“Acupuncture and Whiiplash.” Queen West Physiotherapy & Acupuncture, 2014, www.queenwestphysio.ca/acupuncture-and-whiplash/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2017.
Hertz H, et al, Treatment of Whiplash Injuries of the Cervical Spine with Acupuncture, Aktuelle Traumatol 1983, 13(4):151
“North American Spine Society.” Know Your Back, 2009, www.knowyourback.org/Documents/whiplash.pdf. Accessed 2 Mar. 2017.
Presson, Connie. “MJAOM | WINTER 2016 11 Successful Treatment of Whiplash Associated Disorder Using Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Healing Modalities at an Integrative Medical Facility: A Case Report.” The Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, pp. 13-16.
Su, Henry C., and Robert K. Su. “Treatment of Whiplash Injuries with Acupuncture.” Clinical Journal of Pain, vol. 4, no. 4, 1988, journals.lww.com/clinicalpain/abstract/1988/12000/treatment_of_whiplash_injuries_with_acupuncture.8.aspx. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
“Understanding Whiplash.” The Whiplash Resource Network, www.treatmentforwhiplash.com/understanding-whiplash/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2017.
