Fat Gone

The number of whiplash injury accidents always seem to increase during the winter months when the streetsoften become icier and the drivers seemingly less careful .

You’re driving your vehicle– then BAM!   Now that you’ve been rear-ended you make a quick personal assessment, you seem fine … or are you?

Although you may feel okay , you may have received a serious injury called whiplash… a tender and very deceiving injury.  Whiplash damage happens when your neck is forced back and forth beyond its natural range of motion. The neck is especially vulnerable to this type of injury because of its ability to rotate in so many directions.

What’s interesting is that your vehicle didn’t even have to be moving very fast , as a whiplash injury can, and does happen at speeds as low as 5 mph.

There may or may not be initial pain brought on by the accident .  However, it is not uncommon for symptoms to develop over several hours, weeks, or even months. Therein lies the illusion of a whiplash injury.

Whiplash And Neck Pain

Your neck has many muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and nerve endings. Whiplash can harm one, two, or all these vulnerable component parts.

Although whiplash is most often the result of a rear-end collision, whiplash can happen in several other situations like sporting activities such as football, gymnastics and many contact sports.

The neck may not be the only affected area as whiplash can often manifest itself in other areas such as the upper back, shoulders and arms.  Most often , a whiplash victim will suffer from neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling sensations, spasms and stiffness of muscles.

Chiropractic Care And Whiplash Recovery

Even if you don’t have any obvious or immediate symptoms after an accident,you should find a chiropractor who specializes in car accident recovery as soon as possible.  Only then can an assessment of the severity and recovery of whiplash injury be made.

A chiropractor will conduct an initial exam to assess the extent of injury which may include x-rays.  If the injury is determined whiplash related, a Chiropractor can initiate a number of treatments to restore strength, function and mobility to the injured areas.

Your Chiropractor will begin a treatment plan that will not only help relieve pain and restore strength to injured areas but can also show you how to add additional exercises and stretches to aid in the healing process.

Fortunately, with time, the majority of people with whiplash injury fully recover… many within a few weeks.  However, some patients may have symptoms for longer periods.  Your age, sex , and present physical condition can have a major effect on the severity and length of symptoms.

The good news is that research has shown that chiropractic has been a very effective approach to healing whiplash.

How To Prevent Whiplash Injury

There are steps you can take to minimize the risks of whiplash.  Whenever you operate a vehicle, always make sure your seats are in an upright position with the seat headrest positioned properly and that seat belts are worn correctly on every ride.

If you take part in sports , especially contact sports, make sure you wear appropriate and proper fitting equipment.

If you or someone you know have received a whiplash injury or is experiencing neck or upper back pain, just know that chiropractic care is more than just making the pain disappear .  It’s about helping you really recover from your injuries so that you can enjoy a pain free life again.