Whiplash Info - Unbiased neck injury information

Study shows expectations for recovery important in the prognosis of whiplash injuries

A study at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, shows that expectations for recvery seem to be an important factor.
Individuals’ expectations on returning to work after an injury have been shown to predict the duration of time that a person with work-related low back pain will remain on benefits; individuals with lower […]

Study suggests that whiplash recovery level off 3 months after the accident

A meta level study, Course and prognostic factors of whiplash: a systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted by The George Institute (University of Sydney in Australia) took a look at previous research on accute whiplash injuries. From the abstract:
These data suggest that recovery occurs for a substantial proportion of subjects in the initial 3 months after […]

Whiplash Injury Recovery - a Guide from the Queensland Government

The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) of the Queensland Government (Australia) has published a short booklet with the title The Whiplash Injury Recovery - a Self-Management Guide. It is designed to aid the recovery of people with a whiplash injury and to supplement care being provided by a health professional.
The self-management advice and exercise program […]

Treatment tips for high blood pressure

As a short follow-up to the article on the relation between neck injury and high blood pressure, this article summarizes some treatment tips to lower blood pressure. A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. About two-thirds
of people over age 65 have high blood pressure. There are of course efficient medications as well but these tips focus on what you can do right now and they will also have positive effects on your general condition. The boring thing is that there is no simple solution and most tips revolve around a lifestyle change in diet and exercise.

Virtual Crash Test Dummy to Aid in Whiplash Testing

The development of a virtual dummy is expected to reduce the number of neck injuries received in car accidents.
Peter Ullrich, Crash Safety and Impact Product Manager of developer ESI Group, said: “By using BioRID-II dummies, car manufacturers can enhance seats frame structure so that they absorb more energy and reduce rebound effects, which is decisive […]

Better Positioning of Head Restraint Prevents Whiplash Injuries

A publication from ConsumerReports provides interesting information on how better positioning of head restraints can prevent neck injuries. A rear-end crash occurs every 17 seconds in the U.S. But many vehicles offer inadequate protection from the whiplash injuries that can result, according to ConsumerReports.
“Automakers are inconsistent in providing effective head restraints in all seating positions. […]

Neck Pain and High Blood Pressure

This may be of interest to those who suffer from high blood pressure after a whiplash injury. A team from the University of Leeds, led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure.
Update: Also see some […]

Whiplash Injury May Relate to Jaw Pain

Science Daily reports:
Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, studied short- and long-term temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction in 60 patients in hospital emergency rooms directly after they were involved in a rear-end car collision and evaluated them again one year later.
TMJ is an umbrella term covering inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower […]

Stem cell cocktail can repair spinal cord injury

Research from Toronto Western Research Institute, Canada, used stem cells taken from mice brains and injected a finely tuned cocktail of growth hormones, anti-inflammatory drugs and the cells into rats with crushed spines.

Scientists Coax Nerve Fibers To Regrow

ScienceDaily is reporting that scientists have managed to regrow nerve fibers after a spinal injury. Using an enzyme called sialidase, isolated from bacteria, researchers were able to stimulate nerve fiber growth in rats. This has implications for treating people who may face amputation of an arm after a violent injury in which nerves are wrenched from the spinal cord. The new treatment currently is under study for other types of traumatic spinal cord injury.