Do you have Whiplash?
Have you or a loved one been in a car accident recently? Do you feel stiff in your neck or upper back? Then you may have experienced whiplash. Whiplash is caused by the force of an impact whipping your head backwards then forwards. It can potentially be very painful and cause long-lasting stiffness. If you are considering care for whiplash, you’ve come to the right place! Our chiropractors specialize in muscle and tissue restoration surrounding car accidents.
Temporary Pain or Ongoing Problem?
Depending on the level of your pain, you might think you can wait out the pain with a little help from an over-the-counter pain reliever. However, treatment isn’t usually that simple. Symptoms can change over time to evolve into different kinds of pain if treatment is avoided.
Why is that? The initial force of an accident can cause muscle, ligaments, and tendons to stretch and tear. This is a reactive body process that it meant to protect your spine from injury. Thank goodness we have such advanced built-in safety measures! However, as your muscles begin to heal on their own, the stiffness may go away temporarily, giving you the “all clear” sign. But in reality, even though the general tension is gone, your muscles and connective tissues may have not fully healed. Over time, this can spark other types of pain like severe headaches, or weakness and pain in your arm. Even worse, these symptoms could potentially get worse the longer you go without treatment.
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
If you haven’t ever been to a chiropractor, but recently experienced symptoms of whiplash, then you may be wondering what is involved in treatment. While pain reduction is an important step in the process, chiropractic care for whiplash also involved increasing your mobility and strength.
-
Identifying the Problem
Before performing any treatment for whiplash, it is important that your chiropractor understand what happened and how it has impacted you thus far. Let your chiropractor know the details of your symptoms to assist in treatment. Your chiropractor will then perform a series of range of motion exercises, joint stability tests, and nervous system checks. In addition, he will evaluate signs of strains or sprains to rule out serious injury.
-
Identifying Dangers
If your chiropractor is inclined to believe there is serious injury in one or more of your neck joints, he may take an x-ray to discover potential issues. These x-rays are important in determining a treatment path for your unique situation.
-
Making spinal adjustments
If your joints have not regained your previous level of mobility, your chiropractor may perform a non-invasive spinal manipulation or adjustment. In addition to regaining your motion, adjustments can also help reduce pain and improve mobility.
-
Rehabilitation exercises
Similar to any injury, post-treatment exercises are necessary for an optimal recovery. Your chiropractor will recommend a series of exercises and stretches that will maintain your level of mobility for a comfortable life. Doing these exercises can also decrease the frequency of your care provider visits. Rehab exercises can also help prevent flare ups in your whiplash symptoms. However, if you consistently perform your advised exercises they will greatly increase your strength, range of motion, and stability in your back and neck.
Give Advanced Health Chiropractic and Massage Therapy in Idaho Falls a call if you experience symptoms of whiplash. Our chiropractors specialize in care involving the unique situation of car accidents to ultimately help you regain your independence after an impact.
