Whiplash is by far the most common neck injury suffered by people following a car accident. In fact car accidents with vehicles going as little as five MPH have resulted in whiplash injuries.
Even though whiplash is the butt of a lot of jokes, it is a very serious condition and should not be looked at lightly.
What is Whiplash and what causes it?
The term whiplash was first used in 1928 by Dr. Harold Crowe. It is used to refer to the hyperextension injury of the neck, and the resulting symptoms of this injury – sustained from a motor vehicle accident.
This forward and backward extension of your neck quite often results in a soft tissue sprain or strain injury to the structures within your cervical and upper thoracic spinal regions.
When the first impact occurs and the head is forced in either direction, your automatic reflexes will cause the muscles in your neck to forcefully contract and this whips your head back in the opposite direction. The resulting injury quite often leads to a number of symptoms, many of which can be confusing and misunderstood.
What are the common symptoms of a whiplash injury?
Typical symptoms that occur after a whiplash accident can include neck pain, tenderness, stiffness, cervical muscle spasms, tenderness in the superficial cervical musculature, reduced range of motion, headaches, shoulder pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, dizziness and balance problems, light-headed, depression and cognitive problems.
How is a whiplash injury treated?
When seeking chiropractic treatment for whiplash you must understand that to get better you must be actively involved getting well. Whiplash treatments must target pain relief and tissue rehabilitation which requires a strong doctor-patient relationship.
When it comes to treating whiplash injuries the chiropractic approach is very successful when compared with medical professionals. This is mainly because a chiropractor will focus on rehabilitating and restoring optimal function to the injured tissues.
Our Virginia Beach Chiropractor focuses on the cause of the symptoms. and the treatments can include some lifestyle changes for the patient. In the beginning, we focus on reducing the pain but the restoration of healthy tissue is always our first priority and may take some time to accomplish.
How long do most whiplash treatments take?
There are a number of factors that will influence how long your whiplash injury treatment will last.
A few of those factors include how severe the injury is, how soon you initiate treatment, your willingness to comply with the chiropractor’s directions, your age and the presence of any preexisting spinal problems.
The easiest and most effective way to eliminate your pain and preventing long term and ongoing problems is to get treatment immediately following the car accident. Allow time to pass by without getting treatment, can make your injuries more permanent and difficult to manage
What Should You Do Next?
If you have recently been in a car accident or suffered a sports injury, you need to call Virginia Spine Care Chiropractic today. Time is not on your side if you want to have a full recovery from whiplash. Our Virginia Beach chiropractors specialize in helping Whiplash victims make a full recovery.
If you have recently been in a car accident or suffered a sports injury, please call Virginia Spine Care Chiropractic today and schedule a consultation.
