How Whiplash Can Give You Low Back Pain

By Dr. Masoud Shamaeizadeh of Soft Touch Chiropractic, Porter Ranch, CA

The alignment of the neck can affect a person’s posture and low back health in a major way.  The top two vertebra of the spine, known as atlas (C1) and axis (C2), which are part of the neck, must be aligned for the rest of the spine to also remain aligned, healthy and pain-free. If the atlas and axis are misaligned, the rest of the spine will compensate with misalignment. The low back particularly will be affected as the spine counteracts to make up for the misalignments in the neck. See the video below for a good visual example.
 
One of the most common injuries caused by a car accident is whiplash, which will cause at best misalignment of the neck and at worse severance of the spinal cord. It is very common for a person involved in a car accident to experience little to no pain immediately after the accident. However, a few days later, neck and back pain will manifest even if the accident seemingly did not cause injuries directly to the low back.
 
If you have been in an automobile accident, visit your local chiropractor as soon as possible. If you are experiencing low back pain, consult your chiropractor and be sure to ask about the alignment of your neck.