By Frank Merillat
Whiplash injury is a common occurrence. It happens as the result of sudden acceleration and deceleration of the body. The most common activity that results in this injury is an automobile accident, though it can occur in any activity that subjects the body to the acceleration/deceleration action such as many sports, horseback riding or even a fall. It is common enough that most massage therapists will work with the effects of this injury even if it is not why the client is there.
According to the results of an internet search I did for this article, there are 18,000 automobile accidents a day in the United States and over 6 million a year. When I teach, I often ask the group to raise their hands if they have been in an auto accident. Usually 80 to 90 percent raise their hands. Usually about two-thirds of that group had some sort of physical symptoms resulting from the incident. Often half of that group reports they are still experiencing some sort of problem from the accident at least a year or more after the event. Many people consider an automobile accident a normal happening for a human being since almost everyone has been in one. There is a difference between a normal condition and a common one.
Massage therapists were recently cut out of receiving payment for treatment of injury connected to an auto accident. I believe this was a mistake as soft tissue treatment in my experience is an effective treatment modality, especially when combined with medical and other physical medicine modalities. Even though our clients can no longer have treatment covered under their auto insurance, it does not change how the effect of the injury affects their body.
When the body is subjected to the forces involved in a whiplash scenario, no matter what the cause, a large area of the body can be involved. It is often the head, vertebrae and pelvis most affected. As the force travels through the body, bone, joint, muscle and ligaments absorb that force. This results in injury that requires specific skills such as the ability to work related muscle function groups, deep spinal muscles and the associated ligaments.
Another important aspect of whiplash or any traumatic injury is the emotional and mental aspect. In twenty years of treating clients with this type of injury, I have found that this is no small issue. Clients may take a year or more to recover or never fully recover from the effects of the incident. This can wear on a person. They may think there is something wrong with them, as the improvement can be very slow. They become very frustrated with all the visits to medical practitioners including the massage therapist. They want their life back. It is important to notice this pattern and be willing to educate and work with this component with your client.
Even though it is no longer covered by PIP insurance, whiplash type injury is a very common occurrence. It affects many of our clients even if it is not the main reason they came to the office. If a therapist has the skills and understanding to work with this type of injury it can be very beneficial to the client and the therapist’s practice.
If you would like to improve your understanding and skills in working with whiplash, come to the Working With Whiplash workshop scheduled for April 26-27 at the Florida School of Massage. We will offer 18 Florida CEU credits and the cost is $275 if registered by March 26th and $325 if after that date. To register or get more information, please contact Frank Merillat at 352 371-0743 or by email at fmerillat@mac.com.
