Dr. Gary Robertson DC
"I have been treating patients with Whiplash Injuries for more than 20 years - I know that we can help you."

Whiplash in Miami
If you are in the Miami area and were recently in a car accident that has caused neck pain, you may have whiplash. 

You can get whiplash from a variety of accidents, including car accidents, sports injuries, or a slip and fall accidents. 

Delaying the treatment of your whiplash injuries  can delay your recovery and lead to comlplications from Whiplash Syndrome for years to come.

Call the Miami Back Institute now for an appointment with one of our Whiplash Accident Injury doctors. 

The Miami Back Institute has Whiplash Treatment centers conveniently located throughout Miami Dade County, specifically, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami or Miami Lakes,

Whiplash Facts

  *  Whiplash Fact #1
Whiplash symptoms usually take time to develop. You may feel pain and immediately after the accident, or it may take days or weeks before your whiplash symptoms appear.

  *  Whiplash Fact # 2
Most people with whiplash start to see some improvement within a week or two.

  *  Whiplash Fact # 3
In whiplash injuries caused by car accidents, the severity of the injury is related to a number of factors, including the force of the impact, your position in your car, and whether you were using a seatbelt.

  *  Whiplash Fact # 4
From whiplash crash studies, we know that the soft tissues in your neck (whiplash injuries) have an injury threshold of 5mph.  That means that if you are in a rear-end car accident and the other car is going less than 5mph, there is a lower probability that you will get whiplash. Car accident data reveals that most whiplash accidents (rear-end car accidents) occur at speeds between 6-12mph.

  *  Whiplash Fact #5
While whiplash injuries are most often the result of a car accident, you can also get whiplash from a slip and fall injury or a sports injury.

  *  Whiplash Fact # 6
If you've been in a car accident, even if your car has little damage and you don't feel much pain, you may have whiplash.  Call and schedule an appointment with one of the Miami Back Institute Doctors so that they can determine if you have whiplash.

Who suffers from whiplash?
Anyone can be subjected to whiplash, even in low-force car crashes with speeds as low as 5mph. Injuries associated with whiplash can also result from other accidents in which the head is pushed or jerked beyond its normal range of motion. While we are familiar with whiplash injuries from car accidents, whiplash can occur from a fall, or other impact injury.

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

Whiplash - The long-term Outcome
Fortunately, most people who suffer neck pain after a whiplash injury will recover within six months, however, a small percentage of people continue to have pain.

A significant percentage of whiplash patients recover completely by three to four months, after which the rate of recovery slows markedly. Within two years after the whiplash accident, most patients have reached their maximum medical improvement, however, about 18% continue to have significant pain.  Whiplash patients who do not get better tend to be older, have pain which began sooner after the accident, and/or had their head rotated to either side at the time of the impact. They also found that whiplash patients who, before the accident, had a history of neck pain, arthritis of the neck, or headaches did not do as well.

If you have been in an accident and have pain, even if it is minor, consult with a doctor who has experience treating whiplash accident injuries. Our professional staff has over 20 years experience in managing Personal Injury Whiplash cases.

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

Free Consultation
Call 305-461-4848

Whiplash at a Glance

Whiplash is a relatively common injury that is often ignored or mistreated due to lack of understanding of the condition.

Whiplash is usually the result of a rear impact while in a stationary position.

Early range of motion and exercises lead to a more rapid recovery than prolonged immobilization or use of a cervical collar.

Failure to properly get the proper treatment for whiplash injuries can lead to chronic symptoms including depression and anxiety.

Common Medical Treatment for Whiplash
The most common Medical treatment for whiplash injuries usually consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), muscle relaxants, and/or cortisone injections. Whether prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter, these medications may initially help with pains, however when the drugs wear off, the pain usually returns sometimes worse than before. Many patients with chronic whiplash induced pain get no lasting relief from medications.

More importantly, due to the common adverse risks associated with anti-inflammatory drugs (stomach bleeding, kidney damage, accidental death, etc…), it is our opinion that conservative treatments such as Chiprpractic and Physical Therapy should be attempted initially for those patients with Whiplash Injuries.

Chiropractic is beneficial in treating Whiplash Injuries
Chiropractic treatment offers a safe and effective approach for patients suffering from Whiplash. Several whiplash studies have shown the benefits of chiropractic care in treating Whiplash Injuries.  Woodward found that 93% of patients with chronic whiplash pain get relief from chiropractic even when medical care and physical therapy had failed.

Whiplash Prognosis
The prognosis for whiplash patients varies depending on the severity of the injury and the variable human and car accident factors.  While most whiplash patients recover within 12 weeks, a significant number suffer from long term problems and require ongoing treatment.

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

Whiplash Prevention
It is not always possible to prevent whiplash, however, advances in car safety have attempted to reduce the risks associated with car accidents. Advances in seat belt and headrest design have been able to reduce the risk of whiplash injury.

The proper use of these devices is crucial to their success in preventing whiplash injury. Headrests are designed to limit whiplash injuries by preventing the head from moving excessively backwards (hyperextension) when struck from behind. To work properly, the head restraint should ideally be positioned directly behind the head. If the head restraint is lowered below the level of the head it could actually force the head into further hyperextension after an impact resulting in more significant whiplash injury.

Many cars have additional safety equipment including air bags and air curtains to protect drivers and passengers from additional injury.

Some manufacturers have whiplash protection devices in their cars in an attempt to reduce the risk and severity of whiplash injuries, however, whether or not these devices offer a substantial benefit over vehicles without them remains controversial.

Testing performed by the Swedish National Road Administration and an insurance company, showed that a whiplash protection device was no guarantee against whiplash injury and that the degree of protection varies between vehicles both with and without whiplash protection devices. One study found that an active head restraint system helps reduce the risk of whiplash neck injuries by up to 75% in rear-end collisions.

The Miami Back Institute Whiplash Treatment Centers in Miami

• Miami
• Coral Gables
• West Miami
• Miami Lakes.

     
WHIPLASH MIAMI

Whiplash injuries can be serious and it is estimated that each year, almost 2 million Americans are injured and suffer from Whiplash. The roads and freeways in Miami are amongst the busiest in the nation and car accidents are an everyday occurrence. The doctors at the Miami Back Institute frequently see patients with whiplash injuries at one of our Miami Dade County locations in Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes. 

If you have been diagnosed with Whiplash or suspect that you have a Whiplash Injury, call the Miami Back Institute today and schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Whiplash Injury Doctors.  Delaying treatment of your Whiplash Injuries may cause serious long-term problems.

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.


What is whiplash?
The term whiplash is used to describe an injury to the vertebrae, muscles, or ligaments of the spine as a result of a sudden forward and backward jerking of the head and neck, from an accident.  Whiplash injuries can be caused by auto and car accidents, slip and fall accidents and a variety of Personal Injury Accidents. Whiplash is the most common injury seen in rear-end car accidents and can cause long-term pain and stiffness in the neck.


Whiplash Symptoms
Most patients will develop symptoms from a whiplash injury within twenty four hours of the accident.  In some instances, however, symptoms may be delayed by days or weeks.  Whiplash studies have shown that patients experiencing an early onset of pain will typically take longer to recover from their whiplash injuries. 

Whiplash injury symptoms may include:
   *  Pain in the neck
   *  Headache. 
   *  Pain across the top of the shoulders
   *  Pain or numbness and tingling in the arms
   *  Dizziness
   *  Blurred vision 
   *  Ringing in the ears
   *  Low-back pain

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

What causes whiplash?
Whiplash is most commonly caused by a motor vehicle accident in which the car the person is riding in is struck from behind. The impact causes the head and neck to be whipped backwards into hyperextension as the seat pushes the person's body forward. Almost immediately after this, the head and neck are then whipped forward into a hyperflexed, position.

Recent whiplash studies using high-speed cameras and sophisticated crash dummies have shown that, after the rear impact, the lower neck vertebrae (bones) are forced into a position of hyperextension while the upper neck vertebrae are in a hyperflexed position. This whiplash injury may lead to an abnormal S-shape of the spine instead of the normal C-curve. This abnormal motion damages the muscles, joints and ligaments (soft tissues) that hold the cervical vertebrae together.

Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash can cause serious damage to the muscles, ligaments, discs, and joints of the spine and can occur even if the movements of the head are not severe. The accident impact and resulting whiplash trauma occurs suddenly and the occupants in the car are often not ready for the impact. The muscles are relaxed allowing the joints of the neck to move past their normal range of motion producing more force on the surrounding tissues. Perhaps the most important fact about whiplash is that significant pain and structural damage can occur in car accidents with speeds as low as 5mph.

Whiplash Diagnosis
After a whiplash accident a patient may be examined and treated at a hospital or doctor's office. Based on the symptoms and examination findings the doctor may place a collar on the neck for additional support. The doctor may also obtain x-rays of the neck to check for more serious injury. The critical first step is to make sure there is no major injury to the neck, head or the rest of the body requiring immediate treatment.

Most patients will develop symptoms from a whiplash injury within twenty four hours of the accident.  In some instances, however, symptoms may be delayed by days or weeks.  Whiplash studies have shown that patients experiencing an early onset of pain will typically take longer to recover from their whiplash injuries. 

Convenient Whiplash Treatment in Miami
The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

Whiplash Grading - The Québec Task Force
The Québec Task Force divided whiplash-associated disorders into four grades.
Whiplash Grade 0: no neck pain, stiffness, or any physical signs are noticed
Whiplash Grade 1: neck complaints of pain, stiffness or tenderness only but no physical signs are noted by the examining physician.
Whiplash Grade 2: neck complaints and the examining physician finds decreased range of motion and point tenderness in the neck.
Whiplash Grade 3: neck complaints plus neurological signs such as decreased deep tendon reflexes, weakness and sensory deficits.
Whiplash Grade 4: neck complaints and fracture or dislocation, or injury to the spinal cord.

Whiplash Treatment
According to the recommendations made by the Quebec Task Force, treatment for individuals with whiplash associated disorders grade 1-3 should include manipulation, mobilizations and range of motion exercises. Non-narcotic analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed in the case of WAD 2 and WAD 3, but their use should be limited to a maximum of 3 weeks. A cervical collar should not be used for longer than 72 hours as it may lead to prolonged inactivity. Return to normal activities of daily living should be encouraged as soon as possible to maximize and expedite full recovery.

The treatment for usually whiplash involves a combination of therapies and procedures and depends on the stage and severity of the problem and which body tissues have been injured. In addition to soft tissue injuries, whiplash pain that persists after four to six months may be a result of injury to the spinal joints, nerves or discs. The diagnosis of Whiplash is made following a physical, orthopedic and neurological examination, and diagnostic tests such as X-rays and MRI.  Whiplash Treatment typically involves Chiropractic and Physical Therapy and is usually successful. Treatment may also involve pain management strategies that include medication and injections and occasionally may require surgery.

Free Consultation
Schedule an appointment to see one of our Whiplash injury doctor’s today.  The Miami Back Institute's whiplash injury specialists are available 24/7 to take your calls. Our Whiplash Injury Doctors are standing by to answer your questions. 

The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

We have helped many whiplash injury patients over the past 20 years - Let us help you.

Whiplash - The causes of the pain 
Whiplash patients with persistent pain and without any other specific findings on examination or specialized tests, present problems for the patient, the doctors, and the legal system. In the first few weeks to months after a whiplash accident, it is often impossible to determine the exact cause or causes of the pain as the signs and symptoms are not sufficiently specific. In most cases, the muscles and ligaments have been damaged and may be inflamed, painful, and tender. Whiplash injuries involve the muscles which will typically heal within 4-6 weeks as well as the ligaments which take 3-12 months to heal.

The most common causes of persistent pain in whiplash are the spinal facet joints and the intervertebral discs. Unfortunately, there is a poor correlation between the radiographic (X-ray) appearance of the joints, in whiplash cases, and whether they are painful. Joints that look bad on X-ray are often painless while other joints that look normal on X-ray can be shown to be a source of pain. 

Whiplash FAQs

Can you get a Whiplash Injury in a low speed car accident?
We often get asked whether it is possible for someone to get a whiplash injury in a low speed car accident. Insurance companies often balk at paying out on an insurance claim for a whiplash injury when the car accident was described as a fender bender or the damage to the vehicles involved was minor. The reality is that there is no direct correlation injury and vehicle damage. People often suffer from whiplash injuries which require treatment in low speed car accidents. Whiplash accident studies show that car accident speeds as low as 5mph may cause whiplash and even accidents involving bumper cars at an amusement park have can cause a whiplash injury.

Are men and women equally at risk for Whiplash Injury?
Statistics show that women are more prone to a whiplash injury as a result of a rear end collison than males.

How long does it take to recover from a Whiplash Injury?
Studies have proven that 45% of the whiplash injury victims remained symptomatic at 12 weeks and 25% remained symptomatic at 6 months following a whiplash accident. Even the most minor whiplash injury cases needed at least 8 weeks to recover. The time needed to stabilize in the more severe whiplash injury cases took 17 weeks. Whiplash is a serious condition and Whiplash Injuries take time to heal.

What is the best treatment for whiplash?
Whiplash causes injury to soft tissues and joints of the spine and the best treatment for Whiplash typicall involves Chiropractic and Physical Therapy. Fractures and neurological injuries are best treated by orthopedic or neuro surgeons.  

There was no damage to my car, could I still be injuried?
Cars can often withstand a rear-end collision at speeds of 10 mph or more without sustaining damage, while research shows that whiplash injuries can occur at speeds as low as 3 mph. 

When there is no damage to a car in an accident, the collision forces are all transmitted to the occupants and this can result in whiplash injuries.

Free Consultation
Schedule an appointment to see one of our Whiplash injury doctor’s today.  The Miami Back Institute's whiplash injury specialists are available 24/7 to take your calls. Our Whiplash Injury Doctors are standing by to answer your questions. 

The Miami Back Institute has convenient whiplash treatment locations throughout Miami Dade County, specifically in, Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami and Miami Lakes.

We have helped many whiplash injury patients over the past 20 years - Let us help you.