Whiplash is a very common injury that can affect anyone. Whiplash occurs most frequently during motor vehicle accidents and the car does not have to be traveling at a fast rate. There have been cases of whiplash in people driving at 5 miles per hour. When the body is struck from behind, the head bobs back and forth, causing a whiplash.
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This injury can sprain the soft tissues of the neck. That is the muscles, the ligaments, joints and the nerve tissues. In some cases the pain goes away after a few months while in others it may become chronic, resulting in a limitation of enjoyment of life.

• Pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder and lower back.
• Headaches
• Jaw pain
• Pain and/or tingling in the arm.
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears.
• Blurred vision or difficulty reading, watching television.
• There may be cognitive difficulties such as lack of concentration and memory loss.
• Psychological problems; sleep problems, depression, anxiety or irritability.

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In severe motor car accidents, whiplash can damage the spinal cord, resulting in neurological dysfunction or paralysis below the level of the injury. Compression injuries can affect the brain, causing hematomas – a serious condition in which blood gathers between the brain and the skull. Hematomas may give rise to loss of consciousness, confusion, double vision and loss of motor skills. People with these serious injuries are seen in hospital as a matter of utmost urgency.

Bad posture is one of the main contributors of neck pain and sometimes headaches. The rule is to keep the head in a neutral position. Many of us tend to hunch or bend the neck forward while reading or working at the computer. In some offices the computer may be at a much higher level than the head, causing the individual to look up for extended periods. Sleeping with your neck too high or too low can cause neck pain and headaches, as well as a mattress that does not support the natural curve of the back.
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Physiotherapy researchers have proved that long standing neck pain is related to stiff joints, improper co-ordination of muscles around the neck and a loss of ‘neck position sense’. All of these responded to physiotherapy treatment by the researchers.

Trauma to the neck as occurs with whiplash is a very common cause of neck pain. Whiplash is usually associated with neck pain, but it can happen during skiing accidents or falls from significant heights. In severe cases spinal cord injury may result, requiring emergency care. When whiplash occurs, a cervical collar may have to be worn in order to rest the neck and heal the inflammation. A physiotherapy program consisting of muscle control, strengthening and range of motion exercises will follow. Your specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist will also examine for other problems from the injury that require onward  referral, such as nerve conduction problems and over reactive stress responses.

Other causes of neck pain and headaches are:

• arthritis resulting from wear and tear to the discs in the neck, which can cause a pinched nerve
• meningitis – a serious viral or bacterial illness that causes headaches, fever, stiff neck (serious enough to make it difficult to touch the chin to the chest) and sometimes vomiting.
• The flu. This can cause headaches and neck pain without the stiffness.
• Stress and tension can also give rise to what is sometimes called ‘tension’ headaches and neck pain.
• Torticollis – severe contraction of the neck muscles causing the head to be tilted to one side of the body and the chin to be turned toward the opposite side of the neck.

Treatment for neck pain requires careful diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment depending on the condition. The goal of physiotherapy is to help you return to your prior level of functioning and assist you in living a pain-free life. If you’re a sufferer of neck pain headaches, contact Jayce Gilbert of Peak MSK Physiotherapy in Hampton, on 9533 5305 to make an appointment to discuss treatment.