Q: My girlfriend and I were in an auto accident and I was told I have seatbelt whiplash. What is seat belt whiplash?

A: Seat belt whiplash is a term used to describe an injury sustained secondary to the seatbelt tightening across your chest, shoulder or neck due to an impact in your vehicle or possible an amusement park ride.

The term seatbelt whiplash describes the source of the problem (seatbelt) and the result (whiplash). Whiplash is the rapid forward to back, back to forward or side to side motion of the upper torso or neck. The seatbelt is designed to keep your upper body stationary, preventing you head from hitting a window or the dashboard. It does sacrifice you head, neck and shoulders which may whip forward at first, engaging the tightening action of the seatbelt, then forcing these same regions to jolt back to where they originated (similar to the action of a whip).

The most common injury in the seatbelt whiplash is the shoulder and pectoral muscles, which lie directly under the position of the strap as it crosses your chest. Women, especially may experience bruising and laceration in severe impact accidents.

The whip like action of the belt can damage soft tissue directly under it or pull severely on your ligamentous and tendonous insertions into the ribs and shoulder joints. A torn rotator cuff is also a common injury in severe accidents.

The cervical spine which holds up your head, is the most prone to injury in a whiplash. The acceleration-deaccelleration-action can cause a loss of the cervical lordosis (curve) in your neck leaving you with a barrage of symptoms ranging from headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, arm, wrist and hand pain.

Any auto accident is a severe accident in my opinion. The mildest fender bender can create fractures, herniations and lifelong conditions. The sooner your condition is examined and treated the less likely your may develop permanent injuries. Scar tissue builds up within 48 hours of an injury and the longer it persists without movement, the less likely it will totally heal.

I suggest both you and your girlfriend receive a chiropractic evaluation to determine the severity of your condition. Chiropractors are experts in evaluating your spine for vertebral subluxations which are extremely common in auto accidents. Vertebral subluxations create neurological dysfunction which can create any or all the symptoms previously discussed.

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