Atlas Pain Relief Centre

Whiplash Tamworth or Whiplash Lichfield?

Tamworth Osteopaths at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Staffordshire have many years experience treating whiplash symptoms. Many victims of road traffic accidents (RTA) suffer from whiplash symptoms which can affect the neck down to the lower back. Atlas have osteopaths, physiotherapists and acupuncture practitioners who can help you with your neck pain and back pain

Atherstone, Polesworth, Kingsbury, Measham, Brownhills, Swadlincote, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield Birmingham patients often visit the Tamworth clinic for their expertise in this area.

Whiplash and whiplash injuries occur when the spine (neck or back) are subjected to acceleration and deceleration forces which result in the spine being jolted backwards and forwards. This whip like movement often causes a strain on the spinal ligaments by overstretching them. Muscles and ligaments can be affected and are often damaged during road traffic accidents, especially if the car the victim was travelling in is struck from behind. As the soft tissues have received trauma and overstretching during the accident, the soft tissues of the neck become inflamed.

Spinal neck manipulation is not advised at this time as it may aggravate the condition. Soft tissue manipulation and massage with electrotherapy is a better option.

Chiropractors, Osteopaths and other manipulative therapists may wish to manipulate the neck but care should be exercised and justification sought before permission is given.

At Atlas Back Pain Clinic in Solihull Birmingham and Tamworth Osteopaths in Staffordshire we have experienced osteopaths who understand whiplash symptoms. Together with a team of Tamworth physiotherapists, they can assist patients who have been unfortunate in suffering whiplash. Extensive studies have shown that the best outcomes are achieved when people remain active, within common sense of course. The spine is a very strong structure and is capable of resisting injury in most cases. Research suggests that only minor damage occurs in most whiplash cases and that as a whole, the spine recovers well afterwards. Serious injury from whiplash is not common but you should consult your GP or visit A&E if you have been unconscious, disturbed vision, severe muscle spasm pulling your neck out of shape, pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs and any difficulty with balance or walking. Headaches are a common symptom associated with a whiplash injury and will normally resolve as the soft tissues heal.

Whiplash strains are graded by physiotherapists as follows.

• Grade 0  -  No complaint about neck and no physical signs
• Grade 1  -  Neck Pain, stiffness or tenderness only.
• Grade 2  -  Neck symptoms, reduced mobility and point tenderness
• Grade 3  -  Neck symptoms and neurological signs, numbness, pins and needles, absent reflexes
• Grade 4  -  Neck symptoms and fracture or dislocation confirmed by xray of MRI scan