Have You Ever Had Whiplash?
Physical Therapy for Whiplash
Whiplash Associated Disorders Chart: Whiplash associated disorders can be classified into five grades as identified by the Quebec Task Force: Grade 0: No neck pain, stiffness, or any physical signs are noticed. Grade 1: Neck complaints of pain, stiffness or tenderness only but no physical signs are noted by the examining physician. Grade 2: Neck complaints and the examining physician finds decreased range of motion and point tenderness in the neck. Grade 3: Neck complaints plus neurological signs such as decreased deep tendon reflexes, weakness and sensory deficits. Grade 4: Neck complaints and fracture of dislocation, or injury to the spinal cord. Requiring further followup froma physician prior to physical therapy.
Whiplash is a traumatic injury to the structures of the cervical spine (the seven uppermost vertebrae). It involves muscles and ligaments and is caused by extremes in range of motion in the absence of severe bony injury such as fracture, dislocation or disc herniation. Sports injuries, physical abuse and other trauma can cause whiplash, but most often it results form rear-endmotor vehicle accidents. Symptoms can begin anywhere from a few hours to one day after an accident. Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) can be classified into five grades. Grades 3 and 4 are the most serious and require further follow-up with a physician prior to a patient starting a physical therapy program.
Grade 1 symptoms include neck pain, stiffness or tenderness; Grade 2 symptoms include neck pain with decreased range of motion and point tenderness. For these types of WAD, conservative care often is prescribed, with recommendations for “act as usual” care (no active treatment) or physical therapy. WAD can be pricey: 84.5 percent of the costs are incurred during the acute episode and can result in an absence fromwork of more than two months. For patients, pain reduction is the most common goal, in which case active physical therapy should be considered. For Grade 2 patients, active physical therapy should be recommended as the best option for achieving the best outcomes as far as therapy and cost.
Why Choose Drayer Physical Therapy Institute After an Auto Accident? Physical Therapy gets you back on your feet faster. Drayer Physical Therapy Institute will coordinate billing with all insurances including Auto, Medicare and private payers.
Physical Therapists are trained in the different stages of injury and will have the correct plan for each stage. The clinicians at Drayer Physical Therapy Institute will use gentle exercise to help you get pain-free.
Drayer Physical Therapy Institute provides you individualized care and tracks your progress.
*Please note: All services are not available at each location, visit the web or call your nearest center for details.
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