By Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida
Broward County’s busy highways, including I-95, I-595, US-1, and the Turnpike, see thousands of motor vehicle collisions every year. In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, many patients feel well enough to decline emergency care, only to develop neck pain, headaches, upper back stiffness, and neurological symptoms in the days that follow. This is whiplash, the acceleration-deceleration injury to the cervical spine, and its delayed symptom onset is one of the primary reasons patients in Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and across Broward County underestimate its severity and delay treatment. The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol, combined with Graston Technique and chiropractic care, is one approach used for soft tissue whiplash injuries, focused on addressing the inflammatory and structural concerns that, if left untreated, can contribute to chronic pain lasting months or years.
Research on auto accident injuries highlights the importance of the early recovery window, often described in the literature as the first 72 to 90 days. Soft tissue and disc injuries that receive early clinical attention tend to have better recovery trajectories than those left untreated until symptoms become chronic. Anyone who has been in an accident and is experiencing pain, including mild pain, may benefit from a timely clinical evaluation.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, I have treated auto accident injuries throughout my 27-plus years of clinical practice in Hollywood, Florida. My experience with the full range of whiplash presentations, from mild cervical strain to complex multilevel injury, informs a treatment approach focused on careful evaluation and individualized care.
What Happens to the Cervical Spine in a Motor Vehicle Collision?
The mechanism of cervical injury in a rear-end collision is well documented. The torso is accelerated forward by the seat while the head lags behind, creating a rapid hyperextension-flexion sequence that loads the cervical spine beyond its normal range of motion. Research published in Spine has documented that this mechanism can produce cervical disc herniation, anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament sprains, facet joint capsule tears, and cervical muscle strain, often in the same collision.
The delayed onset of symptoms is a physiological reality. The inflammatory cascade evolves over 24 to 72 hours. Patients who feel fine at the scene are still within the pre-inflammatory window, and the symptoms that develop afterward represent the body’s actual response to tissue damage.
Why Does Undertreated Whiplash Become Chronic?
Research published in Spine indicates that a significant proportion of whiplash patients who receive inadequate or delayed treatment go on to experience chronic cervical pain, chronic headache, and neurological symptoms that persist for years. Scar tissue that forms in improperly healed ligaments can contribute to ongoing mechanical dysfunction. Sensitized pain pathways established during the acute injury phase can also persist and amplify over time.
The Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders, the landmark research classification for cervical trauma, examined the relationship between clinical outcomes and the timing and quality of early intervention. Acute-phase tissue repair is widely recognized in the literature as a critical window in soft tissue injury recovery.
What Does the Regenerative Medical Laser™ Protocol Involve for Whiplash?
The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol delivers medical-grade near-infrared laser energy to the cervical region in the acute and subacute phases. In the broader photobiomodulation research literature, near-infrared laser energy has been studied for its effects on inflammatory markers, microvascular perfusion, and collagen activity in soft tissues.
A 2017 systematic review in Lasers in Medical Science examined photobiomodulation in the context of soft tissue healing and inflammatory markers in acute musculoskeletal injury. The body of research on early laser intervention in soft tissue care continues to expand.
What Does Graston Technique Add and What About Clinical Documentation?
Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization method used to address fascial restrictions in the cervical paraspinals and upper thoracic region that can develop in the subacute phase. The approach is used to support normal tissue mobility and address the compensatory movement patterns that can accompany whiplash injuries.
For patients managing insurance claims or personal injury cases in Broward County, clinical evaluation in my practice includes thorough documentation of injury findings, treatment protocols, and outcomes. Patients receive that documentation alongside ongoing clinical care.
Learn more about the Hollywood location on the Hollywood provider page at ReliefNow Laser Centers (do-follow), or watch patient education from the ReliefNow Nation channel on YouTube (no-follow). Hollywood Laser Pain Center is located at 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020. Phone: 954-925-7333.
About the Author
Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333
Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. The effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.
