The Risk of Whiplash During an Auto Accident

During an automobile accident, neck complications can occur more frequently than any other type of injury and these should be taken very seriously, regardless of the collision’s level of severity. Whiplash, also referred to as neck sprain or neck strain, is one of the most common injuries resulting from a car crash. The sudden force of the impact can stretch and occasionally even tear the muscles and tendons in the neck, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

Whiplash and other type of neck injuries can occur from any type of auto accident, especially a rear-end collision. During the abrupt and forceful movement from a car crash, the body goes through an extremely rapid and intense acceleration and deceleration where the individual’s head can move back-and-forth very suddenly and with great force in any direction. As a result, the soft tissues of the neck extend beyond their normal range of motion, damaging and injuring the various structures surrounding the cervical spine.

Neck Pain and Auto Injury

Symptoms of whiplash generally appear within 24 hours following the incident, however, sometimes the symptoms may develop after a few days, weeks, or even months after the automobile accident. Many individuals believe they are not as injured as they really are, that’s why it’s always essential to seek immediate medical attention after being involved in an auto accident in order to determine the presence of an injury or detect the early development of a much serious medical condition.

The most commonly reported symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and discomfort, accompanied by stiffness, headaches, especially at the base of the skull, dizziness, blurred vision and constant fatigue. Other, less common symptoms associated with chronic whiplash include, chronic pain on the neck, shoulder or head, difficulty concentrating or retaining memory, irritability, ringing in the ears and/or inability to get a good night’s rest. Receiving medical attention is crucial after being involved in an auto accident but if the above symptoms spread to the shoulders or arms, if simple head movements are painful or if there is numbness or weakness in the upper extremities, the individual should seek immediate medical attention as these symptoms might suggest a more serious complication.

Chiropractic for Whiplash Symptoms

Chiropractic care is an effective, alternative treatment option for whiplash. Whiplash not only damages the individual’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments, this type of neck complication can also cause subluxations, or spinal misalignments. With whiplash, the connective tissue surrounding the cervical spine can become irritated and inflamed, stressing the structures of the neck further. A chiropractor will first diagnose the individual to assess the degree of injury and determine the source of their symptoms. Following the diagnosis, the chiropractor will utilize an appropriate series of adjustments and manual manipulations along the spine to gradually correct any spinal misalignments. Furthermore, chiropractic treatment can help prevent muscle stiffness as well as restore the individual’s normal range of motion. A set of stretches and exercises recommended accordingly by a chiropractor may also be used to speed up the recovery process and eliminate any other symptoms associated with whiplash, rehabilitating the individual back to their natural health and wellness.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com

Whiplash, also referred to as neck sprain or neck strain, is one of the most common injuries resulting from a car crash. The sudden force of the impact can stretch and occasionally even tear the muscles and tendons in the neck, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at  915-850-0900

Patient Tells Personal Story

Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez share their wonderful story of health and recovery. After being injured in a car accident, Manuel Dominguez and his wife needed help healing their injuries. That’s when they found Push-as-Rx ®™ and their path to recovery began. With the help of Dr. Jimenez, Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez started the therapies that changed their lives completely and together with the exercises given to them by the trainers at Push as Rx, little by little, they regained back their health. With great gratitude, Mr. and Mrs. Dominguez give their thanks for the magnificent service they received at the Clinic Push-as-Rx ®™.

Dr Jimenez’s Personal Thoughts:

Our Clinic and the PUSH-as-Rx ®™ system is leading the field with laser focus supporting our youth sport programs. The PUSH-as-Rx ®™ System is a sport specific athletic program designed by a strength-agility coach and physiology doctor with a combined 40 years of experience working with extreme athletes. At its core, the program is the multidisciplinary study of reactive agility, body mechanics and extreme motion dynamics. Through continuous and detailed assessments of the athletes in motion and while under direct supervised stress loads, a clear quantitative picture of body dynamics emerges. Exposure to the bio-mechanical vulnerabilities are presented to our team. Immediately, we adjust our methods for our athletes in order to optimize performance. This highly adaptive system with continual dynamic adjustments has helped many of our athletes come back faster, stronger, and ready post injury while safely minimizing recovery times. Results demonstrate clear improved agility, speed, decreased reaction time with greatly improved postural-torque mechanics. PUSH-as-Rx ®™ offers specialized extreme performance enhancements to our athletes no matter the age.

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

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