The treating healthcare professional should take a systematic approach to establishing a diagnosis by observation and assessment of the whiplash symptoms before recommending appropriate whiplash treatment as follows :-
- patient history
- examination
- working diagnosis
- treatment plan
Whiplash treatment may include analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and a cervical collar usually worn only for a short period of time. Exercises, physical therapy and traction together with heat application may relieve muscle tension. The neck and head pain usually clears eventually however some people may continue to have residual neck pain, discomfort and headaches for a long period and in some cases the injury may become chronic with no possibility of full recovery. A whiplash injury settlement in chronic disabling cases can be substantial especially if there is need for long term care. Each patient is different and whiplash treatment is unique to each injury and is directed at the problems detected during medical examination - whiplash treatment may also involve :-
- spinal manipulation which is used to treat joint dysfunction and consists of gently moving the involved joint into the direction in which it is restricted
- muscle relaxation or stimulation is the main treatment for muscular dysfunction and involves stretching the muscle - finger pressure may be applied to trigger points to relieve pain
- specific McKenzie exercises are specifically designed to reduce disc derangement and consist of simple exercises to help the patient to take an active role in recovery
- stabilization or sensorimotor exercise is designed to correct movement patterns in the routine activities of everyday life and they train the nervous system to coordinate and control movement patterns, and improve the stability of the neck
This injury used to be treated with immobilization in a cervical collar however early mobilization is now encouraged and a soft collar is only used for the short term or on an intermittent basis. An early return to work is usually recommended with temporary modifications to any physical work. The modern approach to whiplash treatment is that rest is the worst possible treatment as in the long term it prolongs pain as a result of :-
- loss of physical fitness
- stiffening of muscles
- worsening of the pain
- depression and irritability
- difficulty getting moving
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