Cervical Spine: Whiplash

Question 1

A whiplash can also be called what kind of injury?

Answer 1

Acceleration deceleration injury

Question 2

Name 3 activities that most commonly produce a whiplash type injury.

Answer 2

Motor vechicle Accidents
Slip and falls
Contact sports

Question 3

What are the two most important red flags when someone comes in with a possible whiplash injury?

Answer 3

Loss of Consciousness

problems with vision, hearing, or balance

Question 4

What are 5 general history questions you need to ask when a client with a possible whiplash injury comes to see you?

Answer 4

Headaches?
Loss of Consciousness?
Medical Intervention?
Difficulty swallowing
Problems with vision, hearing or balance?

Question 5

Why is it important to ask about headaches to a whiplash client?

Answer 5

Because it may indicate the seriousness of the injury as well as an additional possible brain injury. ie concussion

Question 6

Why is it important to ask about loss of consciousness in regards to a whiplash patient?

Answer 6

This is a red flag what something is very seriously injured and if they haven’t seen a doctor on top of it then DON”T TREAT.

Question 7

Why is it important to ask about previous medical intervention with a whiplash client?

Answer 7

Because unless they have seen a doctor you shouldn’t be treating them ESPECIALLY if they have lost consciousness or have vision, hearing, or balance problems.

Question 8

Why is it important to ask about difficulty swallowing with a whip lash patient?

Answer 8

It a potential sign that something in the brain is wrong and they need to see a doctor.

Question 9

Why is it important to ask about problems with vision, hearing, or balance to a whiplash client?

Answer 9

it is a sign that something is potentially very seriously injured and they need to go see a doctor before you can treat them.

Question 10

What 2 questions are important to ask a client who has been in a MVA ?

Answer 10

What direction was the impact?

Head position at the time of the impact?

Question 11

When a MVA happens which will result in stronger injuries, the initial movement of the head and neck or the recoil?

Answer 11

Any structures affected by the initial movement of the head and neck will have stronger injury to it then the structures affected by the recoil.

Question 12

What type of injuries do you often see with Front/Rear impact AMVs?

Answer 12

Hyperflexion and hyperextension

Question 13

What type of injuries do you often see with side impact AMVs?

Answer 13

Lateral Flexion injuries

Question 14

Why is it important to know you anatomy for a whiplash client?

Answer 14

It is important because you need to know what structures will be affected when you ask them about direction of impact and head position etc… you need to able to say what muscles are long and short in what positions.

Question 15

If a client comes to you after an AMV and they are in an acute stage of healing should you do any form of testing on them?

Answer 15

NO! if they are in the acute stage of healing then the pain will just give you a false positive. (EVERYTHING will hurt)

Question 16

If a client comes to you after and AMV and they are in the acute phase of healing. How would you structure there treatment?

Answer 16

Once they had been cleared by there doctor and aren’t showing any neuro s/s i would keep treatment short. Try to reduce any protective spasming, alternation hydro if possible. if not then ice if not then heat.

Question 17

Describe the different Classes of WAD (whiplash Associated Disorders)

Answer 17

WAD 1 = Normal ROM and painful
WAD 2 = Reduced ROM and painful
WAD 3 = Reduced ROM, painful neuro s/s
WAD 4= Reduced ROM, painful, fracuture or dislocation

Question 18

Which 2 WAD classifications are ok to treat without a doctors note?

Answer 18

WAD 1 = normal ROM and painful

WAD 2= Reduced ROM and painful

Question 19

When should you start orthopedic testing on a whiplash patient?

Answer 19

once they are out of the acute phase.

Question 20

WAD 1 =
WAD 2 =
WAD 3 =
WAD 4 =

Answer 20

Normal ROM and pain
Reduced ROM and pain
Reduced ROM, pain neuro s/s
Reduced ROM, pain, neuro e/e and fracture or dislocation

Question 21

Why is it important to control the amount of inflammation in the tissues?

Answer 21

because the longer it’s there the more tissue fibrosis and damage you’ll have to work through later ( adhesions etc..)

Question 22

What are your goals with acute stage whiplash and how do you treat them?

Answer 22

decrease pain 
decrease inflam = cool/ cold hydro
swelling = lymph drainage
AF ROM ( pain free ROM only ) = helps maintain what ROM they have
Gentle massage to decrease spasm

Question 23

What are you goals for subacute/ chronic whiplash and how would you treat it?

Answer 23

Reduce pain
Reduce spasm if not eliminate
stretching to try and gain back so ROM
Heat to loosen up neck muscles