Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, Richmond Hill Liberal, Copyright May 23, 1990
Dear Dr. Horowitz:
I recently read an article in the Toronto Star about how important headrests are in the prevention of whiplash injuries.
A chiropractor was quoted as saying that 80 to 90 per cent of whiplash injuries would not have been as severe if the headrest was adjusted properly.
He said the headrest should be no more than one or two inches away from the back of the head.
PERFECT EXAMPLE
I am a perfect example of what this chiropractor was talking about. Three years ago me and my wife were involved in an accident. I always have my headrest raised up so I can rest my head on it when I am stopped in traffic for more than a few minutes. (I do a lot of driving.) My wife had her headrest down as low as it could go because she frequently has to turn around to tend to the kids in the back seat and she finds that the headrest obstructs her vision of the kids.
Sure enough, we were smacked from the rear by a pick-up truck. Even though it was a minor accident, my wife is still feeling the effects of it even after three years of all kinds of therapy.
ONGOING NECK PAIN
She still has ongoing neck pain, headaches three times a week (previously she would have a headaches once a month at most) and stiffness in her upper back.
I had a stiff neck for one or two days and then a bit of pain a month later, but that was all I ever felt. I know the reason was my raised headrest and my wife is now a believer also.
I don’t really have a question about this, but I thought that your readers would be interested in hearing about my experience. I hope this bit of historical fact helps save someone else from receiving more serious injuries than they otherwise would have.
James, S. Aurora.
Dear James:
I read that article you mentioned and I remember thinking two things: 1) I agree that the headrest position is a greatly overlooked factor when trying to prevent injuries resulting from car accidents (you should always be able to extend your head backwards no more than a couple of inches and just have the “fleshiest” part of the headrest against your skull); and 2) I wondered if
we were ever going to be forced by law to have our headrests in the proper position.
For those of you who may scoff at that suggestion, you were probably also laughing at the idea that the police would one day pull your car over and give tickets to everyone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. That is a law that saves lives. A head rest law is one which will save tax dollars.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT
In a serious car accident, the force of the impact will either throw you from the car (out the door, through the windshield, out the window), or you will be pinned and crushed where you sit. In either situation injuries will result.
The idea behind the seatbelt is to keep you in a relatively protected environment inside your vehicle.At least you will have the protection of the metal around you. If you are thrown out of the car you don’t stand much of a chance. For these types of accidents, it is much better to be wearing a seatbelt.
If the accident is one where you are pinned to your seat, then you will be injured whether or not you were wearing your seatbelt. In a relatively minor accident, which are by far in the majority, not wearing a seatbelt will allow your face/head to strike the windshield, window, dashboard, stick shift, etc. and much more serious injuries will be the result. Simply wearing a seatbelt will prevent this and the only injuries you will be faced with will be whiplash-type injuries.
SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES
Statistics have shown that seatbelts save lives and prevent serious injuries. That is why there is a law to force us to wear them.
Having your headrest in the proper position will not likely save your life, but it may prevent a serious neck injury.
Whiplash injuries are not life threatening, but they do cost us a lot of money. Three years of therapy for your wife, visits to the doctor, hospital, chiropractor, physiotherapist, x-rays, neck braces, etc. had to have been paid for, or subsidized by someone.
In Ontario we have OHIP. We are now going to have no-fault insurance.
NO NEW LAW
I don’t think we should have a law that forces us to keep our headrests properly set, because we certainly have too many laws as it is. But maybe someone should pass legislation that forces those who don’t wear seatbelts, don’t use their headrests, smoke, drink too much, eat bad foods …. (you get the idea) to pay an extra share of taxes to offset the costs OHIP will eventually have to spend caring for these people when they need it.