Released on: December 3, 2007, 1:11 pm

Press Release Author: Dr. Mitchell Shea, D.C.

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Study reveals 78% of whiplash injuries occur below vehicle
speeds of 13 MPH. Dr. Mitchell Shea reports those who seek medical care immediately
reduce long term effects.



Press Release Body: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
there are more than 800,000 whiplash injuries reported each year. Many medical
professionals believe this number to be very conservative because many minor
whiplash injuries are not reported and many victims often do not know they have
suffered whiplash.

Many accident victims are not aware that whiplash can occur at minimal speeds. Did
you know that a study in Accident Reconstruction revealed that 78% of all whiplash
injuries occur below 13 MPH impact speeds? At these speeds, resulting injuries range
from short term head and neck pain to long term damage requiring extensive medical
care.

The reason whiplash occurs so often in auto accidents is because a sudden impact
creates an unexpected, uncontrollable movement of the head. This can cause muscles
and ligaments supporting the spine to become strained and sometimes torn. Some
symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, upper back pain, blurred vision, headaches,
and feeling nauseous.

Since whiplash symptoms do not always appear immediately, it can take days or even
months before victims receive treatment. According to Dr. Mitchell Shea, D.C., an
expert chiropractor and owner of Shea Chiropractic, early detection of whiplash can
significantly decrease long-term consequences. Because of this, Dr. Shea urges all
accident victims to seek medical care whether they feel immediate pain or not. He
said, \"Many times whiplash symptoms are misdiagnosed by physicians because patients
expect to feel the affects of an accident immediately. Often times they neglect to
tell their physician about a low impact rear end accident that happened 2 months
ago. This leads to inefficient treatment. I can\'t stress enough the importance of
seeking medical care after an accident, whether whiplash symptoms are apparent or
not.\"

According to Dr. Mitchell Shea, even after whiplash victims settle insurance claims,
almost half suffer with symptoms two years later. Dr. Shea said, \"To avoid a longer
recovery time, a visit to a chiropractor following an accident is well worth it.\" To
contact Dr. Mitchell Shea at Shea Chiropractic, call 931-526-4084.



Web Site: http://www.drshea.ws

Contact Details: Dr. Mitchell Shea, D.C.
Shea Chiropractic
750 East Spring St., suite D
Cookeville, TN 38501
931-526-4084
http://www.drshea.ws