subject: Chiropractic Treatment Of Whiplash [print this page] Many people who have been in an auto accident find that they suffer from pain and stiffness for months together despite taking the prescribed medication. Especially if your neck and back have been injured in the accident, it is best to consult a Vancouver chiropractor to find out if your symptoms indicate you have whiplash.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is the term used for the condition in which the neck is injured due to a sudden change in its position. If you have been in an accident in which your car was hit from behind, your body will move forward but the head stays behind and then suddenly stretches forward, upwards or backwards. This sudden movement can cause the tendons, muscles or ligaments in the neck area to tear and you suffer from intense pain, stiffness and numbness along with tingling sensations in the face or blurring of vision.
What Causes Whiplash?
Besides car accidents, there may be other circumstances that cause whiplash injuries. However, the main point to remember is that it always involves some violent, jerking movement of the head that causes overstretching of the ligaments and tendons in the neck. When this happens, the muscles try to make up for the jolting movements and in the process of trying to keep the neck in its normal position, exert a pull in the opposite direction.
Whiplash is most common in automobile accidents that involve collisions. However, it can also happen in people who suffer a sudden fall from a height while the body is in motion such as falling off while cycling or riding a horse. Similarly, a blow to the head that dislodges it from its normal position can also cause whiplash. This means that a violent punch on the neck or the head inflicted during physical abuse or sudden blows in contact sports such as boxing, rugby or football can also cause whiplash.
Seeing a Chiropractor
Immediately after an accident, you may visit your family doctor who prescribes you the necessary medication and advises you about other measures to deal with your pain. However, if you have suffered a whiplash injury, chances are that you will continue to feel pain in the neck and this can severely restrict the movement in your neck, leading to stiffness. Consulting a Vancouver chiropractor can help you get back the normal degree of movement and get rid of the pain and stiffness without the need for medication or surgery.
Chiropractors use several different methods to deal with whiplash including muscle relaxation exercises and spinal manipulation; many of them also give advice on postural and lifestyle changes that can help you get relief from the pain.
In some accident victims, whiplash injuries may show their effects even years after the traumatic incident and this can vastly influence the quality of life. It can be debilitating to constantly live in pain and soon, the physical distress takes its toll on your emotional make-up, too. Chiropractic therapy with its non-invasive mode of treatment is one of the most popular remedies for whiplash and can help you lead a healthy and pain-free life.
