Whiplash is one of many soft tissue injuries resulting from a traumatic accident such as a car crash.
However, because whiplash is so common, many people assume that it's to be expected and will go away over time.
As a result, they don't receive medical treatment for their pain. Instead, they mask their symptoms with pain medications.
Pain medications don't treat the source of the injury. Leaving whiplash untreated can cause chronic pain in the neck muscles.
If you think you may have a whiplash injury, it's essential to seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.
Chiropractors are specially trained to treat whiplash and other soft tissue injuries.
Their whiplash treatment will work towards returning you to total health as soon as possible.
Learn exactly how chiropractors treat whiplash in the article below!
If you leave your whiplash alone, it will go away by itself right? Read our blog post: "What Happens If Whiplash is Untreated?"
Table of Contents
- What Is Whiplash?
- How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose a Whiplash Injury?
- How Do Chiropractors Treat Whiplash?
- Treat Whiplash Immediately With Car Wreck Doctor
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden back and forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip.
This movement can result in damaged ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the neck.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from a car accident and it can happen in collisions that occur at 15mph or less.
When your car is struck by another vehicle, especially from behind, it causes your head to move in a direction that isn't natural and at speeds it isn't used to. These actions put together causes sudden strain and muscle spasms in the neck and shoulder area.
People can also get whiplash from high-impact sports, assault, amusement park rides, or a sudden fall. The common symptoms of whiplash are:
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Tight muscles in the neck
- Pain in the arms, upper back, and shoulders
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Extreme fatigue
- Vertigo or dizziness
How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose a Whiplash Injury?
Patients with whiplash injuries will be evaluated as a whole when they see a chiropractor.
Even if you are only complaining of neck pain, your chiropractor will examine your entire neck and back because other regions of the spine may be affected.
Your chiropractor will identify areas of restricted joint motion, intervertebral disc injury, muscle spasm, or ligament injury during a physical examination.
They will feel for tenderness, tightness, and how well your spinal joints move.
They will also analyze how you walk and take note of your posture and spinal alignment.
This will all help your chiropractor understand your body's mechanics and how your spine works allowing them to make an accurate diagnosis.
Your chiropractor will also review your medical history, and if necessary, order imaging tests like x-rays and CT scans for your cervical spine.
The diagnostic images and results of your physical exam are used to develop the best treatment plan tailored to your needs.
How Do Chiropractors Treat Whiplash?
Chiropractic care for whiplash injuries is typically centered around spinal manipulation and manual therapies.
Spinal manipulation is when force or pressure is applied to the areas of your spine that need to be realigned to provide adequate pain relief.
The most common spinal manipulation techniques used by chiropractors for whiplash treatment are the flexion-distraction technique, instrument-assisted manipulation, and specific spinal manipulation.
Flexion-distraction is used to treat pain and disc herniation's that can occur following a whiplash injury.
Instead of using quick and direct force to the affected area, your chiropractor will use gentle stretches and less intense pushing motions on the discs.
Another chiropractic whiplash treatment relies on the use of special instruments to apply force.
The instruments help set the areas experiencing pain without applying direct force to the area.
Specific spinal manipulation, or chiropractic adjustments, are what most individuals are familiar with regarding chiropractic care.
This therapy involves thrusting in the direction of an area of subluxation, or misalignment, in the spine.
This allows your chiropractor to realign your spine by encouraging the nervous system to do the work it was supposed to do in the first place, letting your body heal naturally.
Treat Whiplash Immediately With Car Wreck Doctor
If you're suffering from severe neck pain and you're worried you might have a whiplash injury, you should contact a chiropractor right away.
Whiplash treatment aims to control existing pain, restore normal range of motion in your neck and other injury areas. The ultimate goal is to get you back to your normal activities.
Car Wreck Doctor will connect you with professional Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, and Personal Injury Attorneys that are trusted in your local area.
They want to help you recover physically, as well as financially.
Please don't wait if you believe you're suffering from whiplash or any other type of injury.
Car Wreck Doctor can get you in contact immediately with a top chiropractor and personal injury attorney in your area.
Don't take chances with your health or finances; make an appointment with Car Wreck Doctor today by clicking the button below.
