Bumper Cars Can Lead To Whiplash; Here's Why

November 20, 2022

whiplash, upper cervical care

Whiplash is a common after-effect for people involved in a rear-end collision. Whiplash is a common neck injury caused by a sudden, forceful head movement that affects the neck muscles, discs, tendons, and nerves. Some whiplash patients seek upper cervical care for lasting relief and overall management of their condition.

If you've ever been in a minor car accident or even just jerked your head back and forth quickly, there's a high chance you will develop whiplash. Car accidents most often cause this neck injury, but it can also come from activities like bungee jumping, roller coaster rides, and—you guessed it—bumper cars. 

 

The Connection Between Bumper Cars and Whiplash 

Bumper cars are a lot of fun, but they can be dangerous. When colliding with other cars and being jostled around, it's easy to see how someone could sustain a neck injury. Bumper cars are one of the most common amusement park injuries. Most bumper car injuries are minor scrapes and bruises. But sometimes, people sustain more severe injuries like concussions and whiplash. 

We recommend following the safety rules and regulations the amusement park sets to avoid getting injured while riding bumper cars. For example, most parks require riders to be a certain height or weight before they can ride alone. And always pay attention to the ride operator's safety instructions before getting on the ride. 

However, even if you thoroughly follow all the safety rules, there's still a chance you could get injured while riding bumper cars because of the nature of the ride. For example, whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head is suddenly jerked forward or backward, and bumper cars put you at risk for this movement. After all, this ride mimics bumper-to-bumper car collisions. 

Bumper cars are essentially lightweight cars that collide with each other while riders try to avoid being hit. These collisions can cause riders to experience whiplash. So if you suffer from neck pain and stiffness after riding bumper cars, you may have sustained whiplash. But with proper care, your symptoms should not linger for long.

 

Common Injuries from bumper cars

Here are some common injuries that can occur from bumper cars:

  • Broken wrist bones
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion
  • Other traumatic brain injuries
  • Stroke that stems from trauma to ligaments in the neck

 

Other causes of whiplash injury

Apart from car accidents and amusement park rides, there are also other possible reasons why a person will suffer from whiplash, including:

#1. Sporting injuries

Contact sports such as soccer, basketball, or wrestling put you at risk for unwanted injuries as they can lead to overextension of your neck muscles, which can lead to whiplash.

#2. Tripping or falling

It may seem harmless, but a poor landing from a trip or fall or sudden and intense neck movement from the moment you slip until you land is a possible cause of whiplash. This type of injury can happen in a few seconds leading to neck pain, back pain, and shoulder pain, and can last weeks, months, or in severe cases, years.

#3. Physical assault

A whiplash injury can follow if you endured a sudden hit or struck on the head or neck or have endured violent shaking. We encourage you not to take incidents like this lightly and seek proper medical care.

whiplash, upper cervical care

How Can You Tell If It's whiplash?

The whip-like motion can damage the neck's bones, muscles, ligaments, discs, or nerves. Your signs and symptoms may vary from minor to severe depending on how badly you were injured and which tissues are damaged.

Here are some common signs and symptoms of whiplash. These symptoms may not be immediately after your accident and may gradually come weeks or months later.

  • Pain or stiffness in the neck area
  • Migraines or headaches
  • Shoulder pain 
  • Facial or jaw pain 
  • Aching in the arms, legs, feet, and hands 
  • Nausea
  • Blurred or double vision 
  • Dizziness or vertigo 
  • Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
  • Loss of hearing
  • Pain in the lower back
  • Numbness and tingling sensation
  • Fatigue 
  • Irritability  
  • Depression episodes
  • Insomnia
  • Post-concussion syndrome 

Paying attention to signs and symptoms of whiplash following any accident is vital. This injury can lead to severe and debilitating disorders when you do not get the proper care. Once the swelling or any inflammation subsides, getting your spine alignment checked and seeking upper cervical care may be best. Remember that these conditions can take years before symptoms start showing.

 

Coping with whiplash through upper cervical care

Bumper cars are a lot of fun but can also lead to injuries like whiplash. In addition, this injury puts you at risk for a neck bone misalignment. The sudden neck movement and the nature and position of your upper cervical bones put them at risk of shifting out of their alignment, which can gradually lead to problems and complications.

Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on aligning and maintaining the balance of the bones in the upper part of your spine. When these bones are out of their natural alignment, it can put pressure on your nerves and result in pain or other health problems. It can also cause pain and other symptoms like headaches and dizziness. 

Upper cervical chiropractic doctors use safe and gentle adjustments to realign these bones and take pressure off your nerves. This natural method can help reduce pain and other symptoms associated with conditions like whiplash. 

If you've been diagnosed with whiplash, upper cervical care may be able to help alleviate your pain and symptoms and help you recover from your injury. Once your neck bones are back in their proper position, the pressure on your nerves is relieved, and your symptoms should start to improve. 

If you're suffering from whiplash after riding bumper cars or experiencing another type of accident, consider seeking upper cervical chiropractic care from a qualified practitioner in your area. You can scan our doctors’ directory to find an upper cervical chiropractic doctor from your area to help with your symptoms.

 

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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