Whiplash is a common injury following a motor vehicle accident. While common in car collisions, it also results from the sudden jolt, excessive extending and bending of the neck during diving, sports, and other mishaps. This unfavourably affects a patient’s daily routine, from work and social interactions to simple tasks, especially neck stiffness and pain progression.

Unfortunately, this prevalent cause of neck pain and discomfort affects Aussies yearly. Australian general practitioners see roughly two-thirds of individuals injured in road traffic crashes, manifesting whiplash disorders. Without consistent, quality care, this leads to chronic pain and disability. 

Read on as we plunge about whiplash injury rates, recovery statistics, and how chiropractic care can aid in recovery. 

Understanding Whiplash: What Is It & How Does It Happen?

Whiplash takes roots from the whip-like motion of the neck, bending forcibly forward and backward during collisions. Besides vehicle accidents, it often occurs during diving, contact sports, falls, or other traumatic mishaps, spraining the neck.

The sudden, forceful impact may result in bony or soft tissue injury. While patients medically do not have cervical fractures, whiplash injuries typically lead to: 

  • Muscle Strains: Neck muscles stretch or tear due to sudden movement changes, but this is usually short-lived and treatable. 
  • Ligament Sprain: As bones uncontrollably shift in place, they press and squeeze the tough, fibrous ligaments that keep each bone firmly connected. 
  • Nerve Damage: Forcibly bending the neck can compress and damage nerves, leading to a tingling or numbing sensation in the face, arms, and hands. 

Since it involves a neck injury, medical responders often treat this as an emergency condition. As with any clinical situation, health providers carefully examine patients to rule out possible injuries, along with a complete health history and physical exam. 

How Whiplash Affects the Body

Similar to other injuries, it’s difficult to discern to which extent whiplash affects the body. While symptoms may vary from none to severe, they sometimes show hours or days right after the accident. Most patients even recover from this injury without excessive radiography scans. 

During violent vehicle collisions, however, the neck bears the most damage as it acts like a shock absorber–abruptly compressing or extending to minimise impact to the head. This also places excessive strains on the shoulders and spine beyond what they can tolerate.

Sharper movement means a greater impact, with consequences not only localised in the neck. Its symptoms often radiate, causing headaches, muscular spasms, and nerve irritation that affect daily life. Even the weakest force levels can result in whiplash, though research is ongoing to understand how this happens fully.

Whiplash Injury Statistics in Australia 

In Australia, whiplash injuries affect 106 per 100,000 individuals annually. Similar data reveals that, as a common injury report, it accounts for 75% of all survivable mobile vehicle crashes. 

Although it seems high, it’s still statistically more likely to see diabetic or hypertensive individuals in medical clinics daily. Australian report shows that only 0.8% of consultations are from patients with neck complaints or symptoms, with whiplash already a rare occurrence in these infrequent encounters.

In transportation-related hospitalisations, there were 57.9 per 100,000 head and neck injuries recorded. While sports-related whiplash is limited in records, Aussies claimed 1.7% of neck impairment at work in 2022-23. In ballpark figures, patients missed 10 weeks on average while receiving at least $18,700 in compensation for such severe conditions.

Whiplash Recovery Rates

How long can a patient recover from a whiplash? After medical evaluations, most patients return home after survivable vehicle crashes, though research shows only 50% with whiplash disorders fully recover. Unluckily, 30% remain moderately to severely disabled, creating personal, financial, and social distress.

As for patients undergoing recovery, gradually returning to usual activity and exercise are critical. Reassessment of symptoms often occurs within 3-10 days after the accident. Whiplash patients gradually show improvements from 6 weeks until 3 months but require a specialist referral if substantial pain does not subside.

Even with the latest clinical information, there’s no concrete figure on the percentage of whiplash patients suffering from long-term pain. While records show that 80% of referrals were to physiotherapists, early prevention is key before the injury advances into a chronic problem.

Statistics on Whiplash Treatment Outcomes

On clinical treatments, Australian health practitioners use medications in 16.1 per 100 whiplash cases. Meanwhile, combined therapies are a commonly employed approach in 25.5 per 100 whiplash problems. Evidence suggests chiropractic care, for instance, improves cervical motion and reduces pain.

Chiropractic treatment for whiplash disorders, as studies suggested, includes cervical manipulation, manual adjustments, and massage. Other prime interventions include exercise in conjunction with patient education, facilitating recovery and recuperation for whiplash patients.

How to Spot Whiplash and When to Seek Treatment

Like other injuries, there are no single symptoms fully indicative of whiplash. In medical practice, patients must undergo radiography only if they are at high risk due to age (>65 years), per the Canadian C-spine rule. Here are a few features suggestive of whiplash:

  • Neck hyperextension or rotation (recent or old)
  • Neck pain, stiffness, or tenderness
  • Arm or shoulder pain
  • Muscular spasm
  • Point tenderness (within the cervical region)
  • Limited range of movement
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Facial formication (sensation of ants crawling over the face)

While two or more of these symptoms manifest for whiplash patients, they are easy to spot without undergoing scans. Radiography scans (e.g., CT, MRI) are generally unhelpful unless the patients have potential fractures or nerve damage in the acute phase. 

The good news is that patients do not need to undergo cervical spine radiography if they can actively rotate the neck at 45 degrees to the left or right, regardless of pain. Patients must mobilise early and maintain regular routines to ensure chronic symptom prevention.

When to Seek Professional Treatment

While a medical check is crucial right after an accident, whiplash injuries subside within the timeframe your healthcare provider advised. If it worsens or new symptoms appear months later, this requires a specialist referral, mostly in psychotherapy or pain clinics.

That’s why seeking early treatment is vital to sidestep perpetuating long-term disability and chronic pain associated with whiplash conditions. At MVMT Sports Chiro, we assess patients experiencing neck pain or headaches from a recent injury. Our skilled chiropractors have decades of experience providing gentle, personalised approaches to whiplash injuries. 

Call us at 0421 151 778 or click to book online with us today for an initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does whiplash pain last?

Most patients recover from whiplash pain for days or weeks, given with proper care. While it may take time to subside, it should be no longer than three months; otherwise, it requires specialist attention. 

Can chiropractic care help with whiplash recovery?

Definitely! Chiropractic care involves precise manual therapy to restore neck motion and function through specialised mobilisation and spinal adjustment. These interventions relieve nerve pressure and reduce muscle tension, promoting swift whiplash recovery.

What is the best treatment for whiplash?

While pain relievers, heat packs, or rest are the most common, medical professionals suggest that early mobilisation and maintaining normal activities best promote quick symptom resolution. Physical therapy and chiropractic adjustments also help restore strength, flexibility, and motion.

Are there long-term effects of untreated whiplash?

Yes. Untreated whiplash can lead to long-term complications, with patients relying more on narcotic analgesics to ease chronic pain. As this prolongs patients’ disability, it inflicts anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. 

How do I know if I have whiplash or just a stiff neck?

While a stiff neck is often due to poor posture, it’s one indicative symptom of whiplash, especially if you encounter recent accidents, collisions, or falls. Although whiplash may involve more severe symptoms, its pain creeps into the muscles, tendons, and soft tissues, likely reaching the head, face, and shoulders.