At 180° Chiropractic in Beaverton, OR, we provide safe, effective, research-based care to help relieve your pain and get you back to daily life feeling better than before. Early treatment leads to better outcomes, while delayed treatment may lead to poorer outcomes. Come visit us soon!
A whiplash injury can occur in less than a quarter of a second — the length of a blink. In that time, the human head can experience forces greater than a jet fighter pilot in flight.
The term whiplash refers to the mechanism of injury and not the actual diagnosis. It is defined as a sudden, back-and-forth motion of the head, injuring the soft tissues such as the ligaments, tendons, discs and muscles of the neck and torso. This rapid movement stretches these tissues beyond their normal range, which can often result in chronic long term pain.
Symptoms of whiplash can begin immediately or even hours or days after the event, sometimes causing those to not realize that the accident was the origin of the issue. Proper treatment can speed recovery time, restore muscle strength, and prevent or reduce chronic neck pain, especially when addressed right away. If left untreated, you might experience mild or worse pain with the assumption that "Maybe it will get better on it's own."
Early evaluation also serves a practical purpose: clear documentation of your injuries is critical to proving the crash caused those injuries. In Oregon, this documentation helps you get the care you need for recovery through your auto insurance Personal Injury Protection.
Whether you are unsure of the injuries caused by whiplash or you’ve already been diagnosed with debilitating injuries by another doctor, we can help! We specialize in auto accidents, sports injuries, and spinal alignment, so we are confident we can help you and get you to the right provider if necessary, no matter the cause. We aim to eliminate pain, improve movement, and support your long-term spinal health, so that your chronic pain is a distant memory!
Symptoms of Whiplash Injury
Symptoms of injuries caused by whiplash can range from mild to severe, and may not appear immediately. In some cases, a person feels relatively normal at the scene of a crash, and only notices pain and stiffness the next morning once the adrenaline has worn off and inflammation has set in.
Symptoms of whiplash injury:
- Neck pain & stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
- Pain or tenderness in the shoulders, upper back, or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Dizziness, fatigue & weakness
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability (frustration, anxiety, low mood)
In some cases, whiplash could cause a concussion (a form of traumatic brain injury) or more severe neurological symptoms that should not go ignored. Understanding your symptoms and their timing helps your doctors correctly diagnose you and develop a treatment plan that improves your likelihood of recovery.
Do these symptoms sound familiar? Let us help. 503-646-2278
How We Help
Effective whiplash injury treatment will vary from patient to patient. At your initial consultation, one of our doctors will provide a thorough evaluation, gather your history, measure your ranges of motion, and take x-rays to get a detailed picture of your injuries. We will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your case; factoring symptoms, pain levels, and how recent the injury was. Your treatment might include some of the following:
Manual or gentle instrument adjustments to address restricted movement in the spine and support proper alignment
Traction Many types of traction are available in our office and if needed, we will find the right one for you.
Laser therapy reducing inflammation with special frequency lasers, speeding healing at a cellular level and helping with mobility. We have 3 classes of lasers available.
In office exercises with specialized equipment like PowerPlate to improve strength and posture while addressing pain
At-home care & exercises, like specialized stretches, ice and heat, and at home traction.
Referrals to specialists if you have injuries that require additional evaluation.
Understanding Whiplash Injury & The Cervical Spine
Your neck, or cervical spine, is made up of seven vertebrae that support the weight of your head. Spinal discs sit between them, made of a fibrous material on the outside, with a jelly-like inner layer cushioning each vertebrae. Along your spine is a network of muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia holding everything in place protecting the spinal cord. The spinal cord (protected by the vertebra) and the nerves that exit the spine, are the parts of the nervous system that carry signals between your brain and the rest of your body.
When whiplash occurs, the significant forces and change in spinal alignment can cause inflammation in the surrounding soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In worse cases, a nerve can be pinched, a disc can be damaged (often called a disc herniation), or the spinal cord can be damaged. All of these can cause extreme, persistent pain in the neck, shoulders, and elsewhere too. In some cases you can have numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands or even your legs.
Sometimes, these injuries can be missed because they affect the soft tissue around your spine, rather than the vertebral bones themselves. This is because x-rays, and CT scans cannot demonstrate most types of soft tissue injuries. Those imaging methods are mainly used to evaluate fractures or alignment of the spine. MRIs are better at showing some types of soft tissue injuries, but do not show injuries to the small interspinal structures well. Our doctors specialize in these cases and understand how to identify these injuries through history and examination that can be overlooked. Clinic director, Dr. Michael Underhill has spent decades studying the medical literature and auto engineering literature. He is co-author of two leading texts on motor vehicle collisions as well as lead author on a number of research papers on whiplash injury and treatment. We know how debilitating pain from whiplash related injuries can be. There is a way to reduce your chronic pain. Let us help.
Call now 503-646-2278
Frequently Asked Questions About Whiplash
How soon after a car accident should I get checked for whiplash?
We recommend seeing a doctor specialized in car accidents as soon as possible after an injury. Symptoms of whiplash trauma can be delayed particularly with more complex injuries, so a prompt evaluation helps identify injuries early — even if you have minimal symptoms at first. Early care also creates documentation that may be important for your auto insurance (which pays for your treatment with no deductible under Oregon PIP claims). It also gives your doctors a clearer picture of how your injuries develope over time and respond to treatment.
How do I know if I have whiplash injury?
If you experienced a traumatic accident where your head was quickly whipped in any direction, no matter how big or small, injury is possible. Neck, shoulder or back pain are the obvious symptoms, but numbness or tingling in your arms, dizziness, stiffness, or new headaches could all indicate whiplash related injuries. It is best to be evaluated by a doctor with an extensive study of whiplash injuries to rule out a lasting injury if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
Is chiropractic care safe for whiplash trauma?
Proper chiropractic care is completely safe for treating whiplash injuries. Our highly educated and experienced doctors will evaluate your condition, and then use adjustment techniques and modalities tailored to your comfort level and stage of healing. With over 40 years of experience, you are in good hands!
Does insurance cover whiplash treatment after an auto accident?
Yes, your insurance almost certainly covers injury treatment after an accident. In Oregon, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is mandatory for drivers, and often covers care after a motor vehicle accident regardless of who was at fault. If you were a passenger, you may be covered by your drivers insurance and your own auto insurance. If you were a bicyclist or pedestrian you may be covered by your own auto insurance and the driver’s insurance who hit you. PIP is different from health insurance as you can choose any doctor (regardless of whether they are in your network or not) and there is almost always no deductible. The amount of coverage available will depend upon the limits of your insurance policy or that of others involved. Our team will help you understand your coverage and the intake process so you can prioritize and focus on healing.
Will whiplash go away on its own?
Some whiplash cases improve with time and rest, but many benefit from active care to prevent long term damage. Without treatment, pain and stiffness can persist and have a higher likelihood of being permanent. If an injury is left untreated, your muscles can form scar tissue and create permanent chronic pain. The goal of chiropractic and physical rehabilitation provided at our clinic is to return you to full function if possible, and to minimize or resolve pain caused by the crash.
How long does recovery take?
Whiplash recovery times vary based on a number of factors, including the initial injuries, the severity of the injuries and how soon care begins. Due to our 40+ years of treating whiplash injuries, we understand the risk factors for injury and permanent symptoms and create treatment protocols for patients to minimize long-term consequences of the injuries. Some patients improve within a few weeks, while others need longer, ongoing care. Following your care plan and staying consistent with rehabilitation exercises supports the best outcome.
Could I have whiplash from a low impact car accident?
Yes; even a low-speed auto accident can generate enough force to damage the cervical spine. After a review of the medical and engineering studies, there is very little correlation between vehicle damage and injuries to the occupants of a car. The severity of whiplash does not always match the visible damage to the vehicle, which is why a professional evaluation is important after any collision.
Other factors can also influence how the body responds to a crash. Head position at the moment of impact, being caught by surprise, previous neck injuries, and pre-existing conditions like arthritis can result in injuries or more serious injuries from what seemed like a minor accident. Because these variables differ from person to person, two people in the same vehicle can experience very different injuries from the same crash.
Could I get a spinal injury if I wasn’t in a car accident?
Absolutely. Car accidents are the leading cause of whiplash, but trauma from contact sports like football, falls, or being hit by a falling object could also cause injury. Even repetitive motions such as sitting in front of a computer can cause injury. If you are experiencing any pain in your neck or shoulders after a traumatic event, we recommend an examination by a Doctor of Chiropractic to ensure there is no lasting injury.
Schedule Your Whiplash Injury Evaluation Now!
If you have been in an accident and are experiencing pain, mild or severe, don’t wait. The sooner you are evaluated, the sooner we can get you on a course to pain-free living.
Please call with questions and schedule your evaluation now at (503) 646-2278. We look forward to hearing from you!
180° Chiropractic is located at 14685 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97003.
Serving the greater Portland metro area for over 40 years.