Head Restraints
Why are drivers reminded to adjust their head restraints? According to auto insurance and car safety
experts the head restraints are a very important an often overlooked safety feature of any vehicle. Your
vehicle's headrests help prevent a multitude of problems, such as, neck pain,
back pain, sciatica, muscles strains, overall health with
some problems occurring to the brain and spinal cord injuries. We should all give
our seat restraints a little more thought when we are in our cars.
Follow these three simple steps in order to prevent injuries associated with improper
headrest position:
Research at the Spine Research Institute of San Diego and elsewhere has demonstrated that
females are exposed to significantly higher acceleration loads at the head than males and
experience somewhat different kinematic responses to crashes. Males, with their larger mass
and taller seated height, tend to interact more with their seats, bending the seat back rearward. Their
heads often rise above their head restraint and they may experience greater rearward bending (extension)
of the neck. Females, with their lower mass, are more easily accelerated and often experience greater
forward bending moments of their necks. This is largely also a function of better head restraint
geometry and earlier head restraint contact.
There are approximately two million rear end collisions that are reported annually and even more
not reported. More than 20% of the drivers in these crashes report neck injuries. One of the most
common forms of neck injury is whiplash, a condition where
the ligaments and muscles of the
neck and shoulders are distressed. But, whiplash not only can impact the driver, but the front and
rear-seat passengers as well. See the car accidents myths page
for more information.
Head Restraints Can Help
Most people think of the padding attached to their car seats as a form of a head rest that is
there in case of a car accident it will do some function. What is that function? The primary
function of the head restraints is this; they were actually designed to restrict head movement
during a rear impact collision.
1. The top of the headrest should be in a straight line with the top of your head.
2. Position the centre of your headrest so that it is slightly above the top of the ear.
3. Ensure that the distance between the headrest and the back of the head is
between 2 to 2 1/2 inches from the head restraints.
And whiplash being the most common soft tissue injury occurring in car accidents underlines
the importance for all passengers to ensure their headrest is adjusted properly.
While using your seatbelt restraints has become second nature when getting into a car, reports
show that headrests are one of the most overlooked safety features in motor vehicles today.
An important message for local families with multiple drivers, the next time you get in your vehicle
remember to use your brain and adjust your headrest. In my practice since 1989, I have seen many patients
who have had severe whiplash that with time becomes less flexible and turns into Arthritis, do to
improper heights of the head restraints. Look for Phases of Degeneration page as it correlates with
this situation.
Carlsbad Chiropractic
2808 Roosevelt St. #102
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-720-CARE (2273)
Fax: 760-730-9911
Office Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thurs and Fri:
9am-1:30pm and 2pm-6pm
Tues: closed
Open the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month
Most Insurances Accepted
Licensed Massage Therapist On Staff
