Most people have heard of whiplash and think of it as something that is caused in a car accident. And while that is true, there are also other causes of whiplash including a previous neck injury, sport related falls, being pushed or a bad fall.
Even an intense sneeze can result in whiplash!
That’s why it’s important to know the signs of whiplash which may include:
- A sudden feeling of stiffness or soreness in the neck
- Pain between shoulders
- Difficulty in turning the head from side to side
Because of the pain associated with whiplash, along with the potential for further complication, it’s important to consult with a chiropractor following any injury. Any sudden stop of an individual’s body that forcefully snaps their head and neck forward, backwards, or sideways can severely injure their neck’s soft tissues, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, as well as the vertebrae.
In a whiplash injury, supportive soft tissues in the neck are often over-stretched or torn and spinal joints can become misaligned. Misaligned vertebrae, or subluxations, can cause the nerve roots and blood vessels in an individual’s neck to become compressed, stretched or irritated. This can interfere with nerve transmission and blood supply to vital body functions.
In addition, the normal curve of the cervical spine is altered and joint motion becomes restricted. As a result, weakened tissues are no longer able to support the vertebrae in its proper position.
Over time, if these subluxations are left untreated, they can cause many health problems such as headaches, backaches, neckpain, arthritis, heart problems, and many others. There is simply no end to the health conditions that can result from a pinched or blocked nerve. Consider this, if the nerve from your brain to your heart was cut the result would be fatal. What if the nerve was pinched or squeezed? What would the result be?
This is why consulting with a chiropractor is so important. Individualized chiropractic adjustments not only can relieve initial pain from an injury, they can also help in the restoration of healthy spinal joint function to prevent future problems.
Because chiropractors are extensively trained, they can help with:
- Removal of nerve interference
- Breaking down scar tissue from previous injuries
- Increasing circulation to enhance healing
- Reducing inflammation
Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can eliminate or reduce joint pain and restore normal range of motion to specific areas of injury. An Australian study points to the pain associated with whiplash and shows how a chiropractor can help with such situations. The 10-year study found that:
- Facet joint pain is the definitive cause of chronic head and neck pain in 60 percent of whiplash cases studied
- 87 percent of patients exhibited a limited range of cervical motion. The two findings suggest that many whiplash injuries respond well to chiropractic care because adjustments are specifically directed at facet joints
- Case studies have also shown that chiropractic adjustments can eliminate or reduce joint pain and restore range of motion