Hooper-Thurston Specializes in Whiplash Injury From Vehicle Accidents

    WILSON, NC, March 16, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- There are over three million whiplash injuries occur each year resulting from motor vehicle crashes; and of these whiplash injuries, 500,000 people will develop chronic pain, and up to 300,000 will have some degree of disability. Whiplash has a significant cost to society as well as to an individual's overall health. Healthcare quantifies the total societal cost of road trauma attributable to whiplash and related injuries at approximately $43 billion of total annually.

Hooper-Thurston Elite Chiropractic Center says consumers need to be educated about the issues surrounding whiplash - both concerning its treatment and, importantly, its prevention.

"We find that a vast majority of patients coming to us for neck pain treatment suffer from whiplash injury. Whiplash injury can remain unnoticeable for months," says Dr. Mark Hooper, Chiropractor at Hooper-Thurston Elite Chiropractic Center. "A typical whiplash injury inside the car takes place in four phases, and all these steps take place within one-half a second."

Phase 1
This first step is when the car rapidly moves forward from under the passenger. During phase one, the passenger's mid back presses against the seat. As a result of the sudden change of posture, the passenger's cervical spine will experience an upward force; this movement will apply a considerable force on the disks and the joints. Concurrently, body's torso will be pressed forward while the head moves backward. Within a fraction of a second, the neck will experience a tremendous force.

Phase 2
At this stage, torso moves forward reaching the maximum speed (even faster than the vehicle's motion). At the same time, the head still moves backward. This formation makes an unusual 'S' shaped curve in the spine. As a result of this unbearable force, injuries tend to occur on nerves, discs, joints and bones.

Phase 3
Phase three is the step where the torso descends back. Unfortunately, by this moment, the head and neck have achieved their peak forward acceleration while the car slows down. In fact, at this time, the passenger is more likely to reapply the brakes (which were released during the first phase). As a result of this sudden slowing down of the vehicle, the severity of the injury on the neck may increase.

Phase 4
This last phase is recognized to be the most dangerous. At this moment, the passenger's torso is completely restrained (because of the functionality of the seat belt), but the head is freely moveable. The result of this movement is extremely harmful; the neck bends forward with an immense force causing strains on the muscles and ligaments. Apart from that, it can tear fibers linked to the spinal disc. Nerve roots and spinal cord are in extreme danger at this moment. Depending on the type of the collision, even a brain injury can take place at this stage.

After a collision, even a mild neck pain shouldn't be neglected. The best thing to do is to consult a certified chiropractor and get necessary neck pain treatment other than trying DIY methods.

ABOUT HOOPER-THURSTON ELITE CHIROPRACTIC
Hooper-Thurston Elite Chiropractic features three trained chiropractors. Dr. Mark Hooper has completed hundreds of hours of post-graduate education in many treatments including neck conditions, accident injury and whiplash. Dr. Mark Thurston has been providing chiropractic care to patients in Wilson for over 20 years. He treats patients of all ages and with many different types of disorders. Dr. Nick Herbert has experience with treating conditions of the spine along with vertigo, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, and various other neurological and extremity conditions.

# # #