The chiropractic management and rehabilitation of cervical trauma.

A new protocol for the management and rehabilitation of the traumatized cervical spine is presented. Research data indicates that the present chiropractic approach for treating the cervical spine may be inadequate and must change. The change must be toward more specific treatments and active long-term care, with the goal of restoring the traumatized area to normal function. The new protocol consists of four well-defined stages, with each stage defined by its operational end-point. The stages are: pain reduction, mobilization, manipulation, and rehabilitation. Each stage is outlined in detail with an explanation regarding what has to be done and why.