Can a Chiropractor Help With Whiplash Pain?
Whiplash is a type of neck injury that is caused by a sudden movement of the head, which puts the cervical spine through quick motions and extreme stress. It frequently occurs during vehicle accidents, physical abuse, or sports injuries. Without treatment, whiplash can have a major impact on quality of life and cause long-term discomfort.
Research tells us that more than two million people in the United States suffer from whiplash every year. If you recently suffered an accident and are experiencing whiplash pain, it's important to get proper and effective treatment. A chiropractor is your No. 1 option for the treatment of whiplash.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at whiplash, how it occurs, its symptoms, and how a chiropractor can help.
What Exactly Is Whiplash?
Whiplash, as noted, is a common type of neck injury. It occurs when a person's head moves backward and then forward with force. The most common cause of whiplash is during vehicle accidents, specifically during a rear-end collision.
Muscles and ligaments in the neck can be damaged when the neck is extended outside of its normal range of motion. The symptoms of whiplash do not always appear immediately and may take some time to become apparent.
Common causes of whiplash include:
- Vehicle accidents
- Contact sports
- Cycling accidents
- Physical abuse
- Falls
- Horseback riding
- Blows to the head
Each of these incidents can cause muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck to be damaged.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
When it comes to whiplash, the symptoms can be divided into two categories: common and less common. Firstly, here is a list of common whiplash symptoms
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Constant weariness
Some of the less common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Ringing in the ear
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Irritability
- Inability to sleep well
- Chronic pain in head, shoulders, and/or neck
As you can imagine, both the common and less common symptoms of whiplash can drastically reduce an individual's quality of life and ability to personal everyday, normal tasks.
This is where a chiropractor can help. Let's take a look at how a chiropractic clinic can help with whiplash pain.
How Can a Chiropractor Help With Whiplash Pain?
Before we answer this question directly, it's important to understand what a chiropractor is and what their aim is. A chiropractor is a licensed health professional who uses noninvasive and nonsurgical treatments to treat patients experiencing pain.
Chiropractors are best placed to treat the following complaints and injuries:
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Repetitive Strains
- Vehicle accident injuries
- Sports injuries
- Arthritic pain
During a session, the chiropractor will evaluate your spine as a whole even if your pain is limited to a specific area. This is because other regions may also be affected. Areas of restricted joint motion, ligament injury, disc injury, and muscle spasms will be identified during this evaluation.
The first phase of whiplash treatment may focus on reducing neck inflammation. This can be performed using different therapy modalities as well as manual therapy and gentle stretching.
At this early stage, it may also help to ice the affected area to bring now swelling. You may also take pain medication for whiplash to ease pain and discomfort.
Common Whiplash Treatment Techniques
Every case of whiplash is different and chiropractic treatment will be fully personalized for the patient depending on the severity of the injury. The most common treatment technique for whiplash is known as spinal manipulation.
A spinal manipulation helps to:
- Relieve pressure on joints
- Improve nerve function
- Reduce inflammation
There are different spinal manipulation techniques that can be used to treat whiplash. Let's consider 3 of them here.
Flexion-Distraction Technique
This is a gentle form of hands-on treatment that is effective at treating whiplash. This technique is especially effective if your injury has aggravated a herniated or bulging discs. Rather than direct force to the spine, it utilizes a slow pumping action on the disc.
Specific Spinal Manipulation
With this technique, the chiropractor will identify spinal joints that show subluxations or are restricted. The aim of specific spinal manipulation is to restore joint motion. It involves a gentle thrusting technique that stimulates the nervous system and stretches soft tissue.
Instrument-Assisted Manipulation
This technique used a hand-held instrument that is applying non-thrusting force to the spine. It is often used on older patients with degenerative joint syndromes.
Manual therapy can also be used as an accompaniment to spinal manipulation when it comes to treating whiplash. This may include therapeutic massage, trigger point therapy, and manual joint stretching.
Depending on the severity of the injury, whiplash can take between a few weeks to upwards of six months to recover from.
Choose a Chiropractor to Treat Whiplash Pain
Whiplash can lead to serious and negative health implications for people involved in accidents. This includes long-term pain, which can affect quality of life and the ability to perform normal tasks. It may also impact a person's ability to perform their favorite activities, such as playing sport or dancing.
Thankfully, with proper treatment, whiplash pain can be resolved. The best way to effectively treatment whiplash is to visit a qualified and experienced chiropractor for customized treatment.
Here at Unify Chiropractic, we specialize in finding and eliminating the root cause of ailments, rather than simply treating the symptoms. We offer same-day appointments at our chiropractic clinic in St. Petersburg, Florida.
If you are seeking whiplash pain relief, contact our friendly team today to learn more get started.
Recent Articles
Blogs and Articles
