The number of whiplash injury accidents always seem to escalateduring the colder wintermonths when the roadsoften become icier and the drivers seemingly less cautious .
You’re driving your vehicle– then CRUNCH! 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 deceptive injury. Whiplash injury happens when your neck is forced back and forth beyond its natural range of motion. The neck is especially vulnerable to this kind 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 whiplash can, and does occur at speeds as low as 5 mph.
There may or may not be initial pain brought on by the injury . However, it is not uncommon for symptoms to develop over several hours, weeks, or even months. Therein lies the deception of a whiplash injury.
Neck Pain And Whiplash
Your neck contains several muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and nerve endings. Whiplash can injure 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 visible or immediate symptoms after an accident,you should visit a chiropractor who specializes in auto injury 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.
A Chiropractor will be able to employ 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 assist in the healing process.
Fortunately, with time, the majority of people with whiplash injury fully recover… many within a few weeks. However, some individuals may have symptoms for longer periods. Your age, gender , and current physical condition can have a major impact on the severity and length of symptoms.
It is now widely recognized that chiropractic care is a very effective approach to healing whiplash.
How To Prevent Whiplash Injury
There are some precautions you can take to lower 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 go away . It’s about helping you really recover from your injuries so that you can enjoy a pain free life again.
