How Do Chiropractors Help With Whiplash?

Posted on April 4, 2022

Whiplash is one of the most common traumatic car accident injuries. You can also get whiplash from contact sports or a fall. What must concern you about whiplash is that it may not present itself immediately after an accident. It may take a while before you realize you have whiplash.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash occurs when the head suddenly and forcibly moves back and forth. It affects the muscles, nerves, discs, and tendons in the neck. Whiplash happens when there is a sudden acceleration or deceleration.

It causes pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, and lower back. It also causes stiffness, dizziness, sleeplessness, and irritability. The best way to deal with whiplash is to seek the help of a chiropractor.

Who Is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a health professional who uses spinal adjustments to care for and treat neuromusculoskeletal ailments. The neuromusculoskeletal system refers to the bones, tendons, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. Whiplash is a neuromusculoskeletal ailment, so the best person to deal with it is a chiropractor.

How Do They Help With Whiplash?

Every case of whiplash is different. For this reason, the chiropractor will first take your history. They will also want to know about the incident that led to the whiplash. Afterward, they will assess your spine and develop a treatment plan.

• Chiropractors employ different treatments for whiplash. These include:
• Spinal manipulation and adjustments.
• Muscle relaxation and stimulation.
• Exercises.
• Ergonomic and lifestyle changes.

Spinal Manipulation and Adjustments

It involves short thrusts or slower movements to gently move the affected joint in the direction of the restriction. It creates mobility and encourages healing that begins when the bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels align. Nutrients and white blood cells can move into the injured areas and protect them from infections as they speed up healing.

Muscle Relaxation and Stimulation

It involves the treatment of muscle dysfunction. It consists of gentle stretches to the muscles with excessive tension or repeating contractions on the inhibited muscles. The chiropractor may apply vigorous stretches if the muscles are too tight. They may also use gentle finger pressure techniques to trigger points to relieve pain from tight muscles.

Exercises

The chiropractor may employ different exercises to help you with your whiplash injury. These may include McKenzie exercises, stabilization, and sensorimotor exercises. McKenzie exercises are specific to dealing with disc derangement resulting from whiplash. They consist of simple movements that you first do at the office and slowly transition to home self-care. The exercises allow you to take an active role in your recovery.

Stabilization and sensorimotor exercises train the nervous system to control and coordinate movement patterns. The chiropractic exercises correct routine and everyday movement patterns that are faulty. They improve the ability of your neck muscles to maintain their stability.

Ergonomic and Lifestyle Changes

You may need a way to perform everyday activities with minimal strain. You may need to change how you do things at your workplace, home, or recreational activities. You need to change anything that may affect the injuries from whiplash. The chiropractor may also teach you some stress reduction methods to help you take care of yourself.

For more information on how chiropractors can help with whiplash, call Accident and Injury Chiropractic at (253) 215-8350 to reach us at our office in Tacoma, Washington.