Whiplash injuries 'have many after-effects'

People who suffer a whiplash injury not only have to contend with the pain and discomfort of the condition, but also the lasting after-effects that can severely impair their livelihood, according to one expert.

Joe DiVincenzo, a physical therapist and clinical specialist in manual therapy, told the Gloucester Times that although whiplash injuries often resolve themselves within a few weeks, the severity of a case of whiplash generally depends on two factors.

These are the displacement of the victim's spine during the accident and the energy involved in the trauma itself, with the worse cases lasting a long time or even for the rest of the patient's life.

"Clinically, patients with whiplash typically display poor range of motion and strength in the regions of the neck, shoulder and sometimes the legs and often have intense unremitting pain throughout most of the day, seriously affecting their quality of life and also their work," he explained.

Mr DiVincenzo noted that the critical time-frame for intervention is 30 days from the time of injury, as patients who wait more than a month to seek care have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic problems.

Posted by Trevor Baker 

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