Imagine balancing a 10-pound ball on the end of a stick. That's the delicate balancing act your neck performs throughout the day. Soft tissue is really the only thing keeping your head poised on the top of your spine. If your cervical spine is aligned and neck anatomy healthy, your head's weight is evenly balanced. A Cervical acceleration / deceleration trauma (whiplash) turns your head's weight into a powerful force, hurling your neck past its normal range of motion. In the typical whiplash injury, your head is whipped backwards, injuring muscles, ligaments, disc, and other structures. As your head whips forward, its speed doubles, increasing the force on your neck. (in an 8 MPH collision the occupant's head is exposed to 5 G's) If your head is turned to the side, injury is often more severe. After a whiplash injury, your neck's balance is upset. Your neck's natural curve may be reversed, which unevenly distributes your head's weight and further misaligns your vertebrae. Your fragile, damaged neck must now strain to hold up your head. If not corrected, scarring - and even arthritic degeneration - may develop. You may also experience recurring pain. Chiropractic has long been recognized as the preferred care for most types of spinal injuries. All the Chiropractors at the Centres have completed many hours of study in case management of injured persons. This includes studies in whiplash mechanics, diagnostics testing, narrative report writing, medlegal training and impairment rating. The clinics perform a detailed history on every new patient, a thorough 66 point examination, and when indicated, X-rays are taken. A Surface Electromyogram is also performed to document myospams of involved areas. Throughout care re-exams are performed regularly to document appropriateness of care and to record progress information. Although most care is performed in the clinic, referrals to physical therapists, and massage therapists are made on a regular basis. When indicated,concurrent care with medical practitioners is also used both for treatment and consultations. When care is concluded a detailed report can be requested that documents our care necessity, permanent residuals, if any, and estimated probable further supportive care needs.