Neck injuries
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Follow the links below to find trusted information about neck injuries.
Last reviewed: May 2018
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Whiplash injury | myVMC
Whiplash is a traumatic injury that causes neck pain. It is associated with sudden jerking of the spine in rear-end motor accidents.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Helmets are shown to reduce motorcyclist head injury and death | Cochrane
Motorcyclists are at high risk in traffic crashes, particularly for head injury. A review of studies concluded that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by around 69% and death by around 42%. There is, so far, insufficient evidence to compare the effectiveness of different types of helmet. Some studies have suggested that helmets may protect against facial injury and that they have no effect on neck injury, but more research is required for a conclusive answer. The review supports the view that helmet use should be actively encouraged worldwide for rider safety.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Neck pain - Better Health Channel
Treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy or remedial massage can generally help neck and shoulder pain.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Neck pain: treatment - myDr.com.au
Treatment for neck pain depends on the cause and how severe it is. Neck pain treatment, including treatment for whiplash, often involves a combination of self-care, medicines, exercises and relaxation therapies.
Read more on myDr website
Neck pain: symptoms and causes - myDr.com.au
Knowing the symptoms of your neck pain and when to see a doctor can help in finding the cause and getting a diagnosis.
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Neck | Arthritis Australia
What is neck pain? Neck pain is pain that is felt in the upper part of the spine. It is sign that the joints, muscles or other parts of the neck are injured, strained or not working properly. Neck pain is very common, with about one in 10 people having it at any given time, but it is not usually a sign of arthritis or
Read more on Arthritis Australia website
Neck Pain | myVMC
Information on the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of Neck pain and stiff neck by professional health specialists.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Neck Pain - Pain Conditions - painHEALTH
Learn about neck pain as a musculoskeletal pain condition to identify how you can approach neck pain in your co-management treatment plan
Read more on painHEALTH website
Neck Pain (Non-Traumatic)Information for Consumers - Neck Pain (Non-Traumatic)
This article tells consumers about non-traumatic neck pain and how it is diagnosed, including what imaging tests they may need to have.This article tells consumers about non-traumatic neck pain and how it is diagnosed, including what imaging tests they may need to have.
Read more on Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website
Exercise - RECOVER Injury Research Centre - University of Queensland
Exercises for whiplash or neck pain may include specific neck exercises, shoulder exercises, active exercise, stretching, strengthening, postural, functional, kinaesthetic, eye-fixation and proprioception exercises
Read more on RECOVER Injury Research Centre website
Top results
Surgical versus conservative management for an odontoid fracture (a serious neck injury) | Cochrane
The seven bones making up the neck region of the backbone are called the cervical vertebrae. The first vertebra, called the atlas, supports the skull. Underneath this is the axis or second vertebra, which has a upward pointing process called the odontoid process around which the atlas can rotate, enabling the head to be turned. Fracture of the odontoid process is a serious injury and is often fatal. In survivors there is a risk of ongoing damage to the spinal cord and paralysis. People with these fractures are often treated conservatively, which entails stabilisation of the neck in devices such as a 'Halo' (external frame) and/or rigid collar for several months. Another option is surgical stabilisation of the fractured parts. The review aimed to examine the evidence from randomised controlled trials comparing surgical versus conservative treatment for these fractures to find if either approach gave a better outcome. Despite a comprehensive search, the review authors found no evidence from completed randomised controlled trials to inform the choice between surgical and conservative management.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Medicinal and Injection Therapies for mechanical neck disorders | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Mechanical traction for neck pain with or without symptoms that radiate to the neck or arm | Cochrane
Twenty-six to 71% of the adult population can recall experiencing an episode of neck pain or stiffness in their lifetime. Neck pain is more common in females than in males, with rates reported as high as 77.8%. The natural history is unclear. Neck pain has a costly impact on society because of visits to healthcare providers, sick leave, disability and loss of productivity. There are a number of treatments available for neck pain, one of which is mechanical traction.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Exercises, ergonomics and physical therapy for work-related complaints of arm, neck or shoulder | Cochrane
Work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder are also called repetitive strain injury or occupational overuse syndrome. They are a burden for individual workers, for their employers and for society at large because they impair functioning both in daily life and at work.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Surgical approaches for dislocations of the neck bones | Cochrane
The part of the back bone found in the neck is called the cervical spine. It consists of seven bones (or vertebrae). The relative movement of these vertebrae is mainly via small joints (called facet joints) located between each vertebrae. The facet joints in the cervical spine facilitate good movement of the neck, but they are vulnerable to dislocation. Typically, cervical spine facet dislocations are caused by high-energy traumas such as road traffic accidents or violent attacks. Approximately half of people with such dislocations sustain an injury to the spinal cord carried within the spine. This can result in significant impairment of function (e.g. paralysis). Surgery is usually needed for these serious injuries in order to keep the neck bones in place.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Conservative treatments for whiplash | Cochrane
Whiplash is defined as an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck. It may result from rear-end or side-impact motor vehicle collisions or during diving, among other mishaps.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Surgery for cervical radiculomyelopathy | Cochrane
Cervical spondylosis, or degeneration (wear and tear of the bones and discs in the neck), is a very common condition affecting most of us at some point in our lives. It is frequently related to strain of the supporting muscles or wear and tear of the discs that connect the individual bones (vertebrae) that form the spine, resulting in neck pain. Radiculopathy is pain, weakness or reduced reflexes that follow the path of nerves that come from the neck region. Myelopathy is spasticity and weakness in the lower limbs with or without "numb and clumsy" hands.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Acupuncture for sudden-onset ankle sprains in adults | Cochrane
An acute ankle sprain is a sudden-onset injury of the ankle ligaments (tough strands of tissue that connect and stabilise the bones at the ankle). It is one of the most common injuries in the general population as well as in athletes. Acupuncture is frequently used for treating ankle sprains in eastern Asian countries. This review aimed to assess the benefits and harms of acupuncture for the treatment of ankle sprains in adults. We searched the medical literature for studies up to May 2013.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Surgery versus conservative treatment for acute ankle sprains in adults | Cochrane
Ankle sprain is one of the commonest musculoskeletal injuries in active people. It generally involves damage to the lateral or outer ligaments, which connect bones together on the outside of the ankle joint. Treatment is usually either immobilisation of the leg in a plaster cast, or 'functional treatment' where the ankle is kept in use while protected by an external support. After treatment, however, some people still have a weak and sometimes painful ankle. This review aimed to find out if primary surgical repair of the torn ligament(s) gives a better result than either of these two non-surgical or conservative treatments.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Splints and other non-surgical methods for treating common injuries of the middle joints of the fingers | Cochrane
Splints and other non-surgical methods for treating common injuries of the middle joints of the fingers
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
