A whiplash injury can cause pain for months, even years, after the accident/incident. It can cause persistent neck, shoulder, and back pain, headaches, and sleep problems. Waiting to see if it will go away is not recommended. Chiropractic treatment can effectively and successfully expedite the healing process of getting back to normal life as quickly as possible. Chiropractors treat whiplash successfully using a combination of techniques, approaches, and exercises for pain relief, recovery, and long-term spinal health. The extent and severity of the whiplash injury determine what type of chiropractic treatment will be implemented.
Table of Contents
Whiplash injuries are often the result of:
It is primarily an injury of the neck muscles and ligaments but can also damage the vertebral discs. It is not considered a serious or life-threatening injury but can cause long-term complications and severe chronic pain. The biggest risk comes from the delayed presentation of symptoms. It can take days and sometimes weeks for the effects of the injury to present. Individuals that are older or those with arthritis are more likely to have severe and long-term issues.
Typical symptoms like neck pain, blurry vision, stiffness, and dizziness are well known. These can range from mild to severe, and last for a few days, weeks, or, in severe cases, years. However, there are some symptoms that most donβt know about and including:
Individuals should be alert for signs/symptoms that the injury requires immediate medical attention. If any of the following are experienced, seek immediate care.
Chiropractic treatment depends on the individual case. A doctor of chiropractic will determine the right treatment plan by the:
X-rays will be taken of the affected area to rule out any other trauma or injury. The chiropractor will evaluate the entire spine. This is based on how one part of the body influences other areas, with the objective being to get the whole body functioning successfully at optimal levels.
Some of the more common treatments for whiplash include:
Visiting a chiropractor a short time after the injury means the neck will be inflamed. The doctor will utilize gentle, anti-inflammatory options like:
There are different types of spinal manipulation, these include:
This is also a hands-on technique that treats slipped and bulging discs. This treatment utilizes a pumping motion on the disc/s, not the spine.
McKenzie exercises help reduce disc tears common to these types of injuries. The chiropractor will show how to perform these simple movements at home as part of the recovery.
A chiropractor will offer tips and guidance on successfully avoiding worsening the injury or creating new injury/s. Stretches and exercises will be recommended to strengthen and maintain flexibility. Depending on an individualβs:
It is difficult to predict how long it will take to regain a previous fitness level after an injury. Retraining to peak conditions depends on the injury and how much damage was done. A key factor is to not adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Muscle memory can help as the muscles have special cells in the fibers that can recollect previous movements. This means the body can regain the lost muscle when back to working out after an extended layoff. Some tips to help get back into shape:
Patience and persistence are essential to regaining fitness successfully.
Dagenais, Simon, and Scott Haldeman. Chiropractic. Primary careΒ vol. 29,2 (2002): 419-37. doi:10.1016/s0095-4543(01)00005-7
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020138396000964
Ritchie, Carrie, et al. Medical and allied health service use during acute and chronic post-injury periods in whiplash injured individuals. BMC health services researchΒ vol. 20,1 260. 30 Mar. 2020, doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05146-0
Ferrari, Robert, and Anthony Science Russell. Γ’β¬ΕSurvey of general practitioner, family physician, and chiropractorβs beliefs regarding the management of acute whiplash patients. SpineΒ vol. 29,19 (2004): 2173-7. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000141184.86744.37
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Chiropractic Treats Whiplash Effectively and Successfully" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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