Cervical Sprain (Whiplash) — Neck Pain After a Rear-End Collision
Table of Contents
Mechanism of whiplash injury
In a rear-end collision, the occupant's head is thrown backward by inertia (hyperextension) and then snapped forward (hyperflexion) in a whip-like motion. During this motion, the ligaments around the cervical spine (anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments) and the muscles (sternocleidomastoid, scalene, splenius capitis) are overstretched or microscopically torn. When the synovium of the cervical facet joints becomes inflamed, sharp pain occurs when turning or bending the neck.
Main symptoms and Korean medicine pattern identification
Cervical sprain produces a wide range of symptoms — neck pain, posterior neck tightness, headache, radiating shoulder pain, and arm numbness. Korean medicine views this as qi stagnation and blood stasis (Gichae Hyeoreo, 氣滯血瘀) with obstruction of the meridians (Gyeongnak Bultong, 經絡不通). The collision blocks the flow of qi and blood in the cervical meridians, and stagnant blood stasis produces pain.
Chuna treatment — restoring cervical alignment
Cervical chuna manipulation (頸椎推拿) corrects displaced cervical vertebrae and releases shortened, tense muscles. In the acute phase (1–2 weeks after the accident), soft-tissue chuna is mainly used; from the subacute phase onward, this transitions to joint-correcting chuna.
Acupuncture and acupoint selection
Key acupoints in the acute phase are Fengchi (GB20), Tianzhu (BL10), Dazhui (GV14), and Houxi (SI3). Fengchi and Tianzhu release tension in the suboccipital muscles, simultaneously relieving headache and posterior neck pain. Pharmacopuncture is injected into the most painful Ashi points (阿是穴) using anti-inflammatory pharmacopuncture to suppress local inflammation.
Cold packs in the acute phase, heat packs in the subacute phase
- Acute phase (0–72 hours): Cold pack — 15 min/session, 3–4 times daily, suppresses swelling and inflammation
- Subacute phase (3 days–2 weeks): Switch to heat packs — improves blood flow and promotes muscle relaxation
- Recovery phase (after 2 weeks): Active exercise therapy plus maintenance chuna