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.