If you have been in a car accident, it’s wise to have your spine checked by a whiplash and brain trauma specialist...

If you have been in an accident, the smart thing to do is have your spine checked by a chiropractor that has advanced training in whiplash and brain trauma. A well-trained chiropractor will be able to detect whiplash injuries that may seem minor at first, but may progress into severe long term disabilities if they are not treated properly.

Whiplash is a name for a specific type of injury to the neck and upper back. It is also called a flexion extension injury because of the way the head is snapped forward and backwards in flexion and extension. This violent motion tears the muscles and ligaments that hold the spine in proper alignment. The tearing of muscles and ligaments is also called a sprain strain injury. A rear end car crash is the most common cause of whiplash, but by no means the only. Any force to the body that makes the head snap violently backwards and forward that causes damage to the ligaments and muscles of the neck and back is a whiplash. We see it happen all the time in football. We also see it frequently in a slip and fall accident. When the person hits the ground with their arm or shoulder that stops the movement of the body, but the head keeps moving.

Dr. Jeff Zitel is a Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Graduate and has received an Advanced Certification of Competency from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. He has been treating car accident victims since he began practice in 1997.

http://www.srisd.com/consumer_site/