Whiplash frequently affects people involved in rear end car accidents; in fact some 22% of all smashes result in soft tissue damage to the neck. Fortunately the condition is not serious and in the majority of cases the symptoms disappear within a few months at the most. However, the symptoms of whiplash are painful for most people and can be extremely debilitating. The headaches, neck ache and back ache commonly suffered, can result in sleeplessness and depression.

Commonly the therapy for whiplash involves chiropractic treatments and anti inflammatory drugs. Sometimes heat treatments are used and immobilisation, whilst not used as commonly today, is occasionally recommended. However, new studies in Canada have shown that the greater the medical intervention in whiplash treatment the longer it might take to recover.

According to the study carried out on 2500 whiplash patients, if doctors avoid heavy treatment of sufferers within the first month of an injury being sustained, then the pain may subside more quickly. The study showed that extensive manual therapy may be detrimental in the long term and may prolong suffering by up to a year.

Many doctors now suggest that the patient should try to resume normal activity as soon as possible in order to mobilise the injury. Physical activity is encouraged to promote strength and flexibility in the neck and to increase the range of motion.

When someone is affected by whiplash the chances are that the injury was someone else