Should I See a Chiropractor for Whiplash?
Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA)
Should I See a Chiropractor for Whiplash?
Injuries, Pain & Inflammation
Should I See a Chiropractor for Whiplash?
Have you been involved in a car accident? Had a fall and hurt your neck? Played an intense game of rugby and tackled to the ground? Or even just bobbed your head to some really good rock music? Then you may have sustained a whiplash injury to your neck, so let’s find out a bit more about it and how your chiropractor can help you.
What is whiplash?
Many people think that whiplash is only caused by rear-end car accidents but it is actually a fairly common injury that is caused by a sudden, forceful forward and backward movement, much like a whip. This causes the ligaments and muscles in the neck to stretch beyond the normal range of motion.
How do I know if I have whiplash?
If you have been involved in a car accident or sustained some sort of neck and head trauma, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Neck pain
- Muscle spasm
- Fatigue
- Headaches
If you are suffering from any of the above, it may be an idea to visit your chiropractor who will assess you for a potential whiplash injury to ensure you receive the best treatment for your diagnosis.
The examination may include:
- Checking your reflexes
- Checking muscle strength
- Testing the range of motion (and pain of these movements) of your neck
- Feeling your muscles for tenderness in the neck and shoulder region
- Checking to see that you have not sustained further injury to the head
How is whiplash treated?
Your chiropractor’s goal is to reduce pain and get you back to normal activity as soon as possible with treatments designed to help you feel better and prevent further injury from taking place.
These treatment protocols may include:
- Rest
- Massage
- Ultrasound or electromodalities
- Ice packs on the neck to assist in reducing swelling and pain
- Manipulation/mobilisation to affected joints
Of course, not all whiplash injuries are created equally. As such, your treatment will be designed for you based on your medical history and examination.
How long will I take to recover from whiplash?
Every injury is unique and many variables come into play, from underlying health problems to how the accident happened, to name a few.
While some neck injuries will settle in a few days with some homecare and chiropractic treatment, more severe cases may take months to resolve fully.
Unfortunately, chronic neck pain may become a factor for some patients after a whiplash injury and may require ongoing therapy to alleviate it. If you are concerned about how long your pain is persisting, you can chat to your chiropractor about other treatment options and possible referral for X-rays.
Your CASA-registered chiropractor will be able to answer all your whiplash-related questions. Find one close to you here.
Dislaimer:
This blog post is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Tags :
injury, neck injury, neck pain, sport injury, whiplash
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