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Treating Symptoms of Whiplash with Chiropractic Care

Written By Belleview Spine and Wellness on March 19, 2018

Whiplash can be debilitating for the sufferer.  It is estimated that over a million people are diagnosed each year with whiplash, and that some 10% of those cases will experience symptoms of chronic pain that will impact their daily activities. 

Whiplash is typically caused in an impact injury that forces the cervical spine to jerk forward and then snap back rapidly, placing stress on the vertebrae, muscles and ligaments of the neck. Whiplash can be challenging to diagnose, as symptoms may not appear for a period of time after the initial injury takes place. Additionally, early symptoms may appear to be unrelated to the neck. For example, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision and arm and hand pain are symptoms of whiplash.

Further symptoms include restricted mobility in the neck, muscle spasms, and pain in the cervical spine. Once diagnosed with whiplash, one of the most effective treatments can be chiropractic care, which can alleviate symptoms of pain, in addition to providing comprehensive treatment to the spine.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help Whiplash

By addressing misalignments in the spine, your chiropractor can manually manipulate vertebrae to their natural alignment, which reduces stress and tension in the surrounding muscles. Restoring vertebrae to their natural positions sends signals to the brain that the body can relax and begin the process of healing and restoration.

In addition to manual manipulation of the spine, your practitioner may recommend the use of ice packs to help reduce inflammation in the muscles. Once inflammation begins to recede, the muscles can further relax allowing for a return to normal movement and range of motion.

What About Symptoms of Dizziness or Headaches?

Each individual case of whiplash is unique, particularly depending on the cause and severity of the injury. It is not uncommon for diagnosis of concussion to accompany a diagnosis of whiplash. If you sustained an impact to your head you should consult with a medical provider as soon as possible to determine if you have a concussion. Like whiplash, concussions can cause fatigue, dizziness and blurry vision, as well as delayed onset of headache.

Chiropractic care can be very effective in providing relief of muscle pain and tensions that care caused by whiplash.  As a non-surgical treatment it helps to increase mobility and promote healing to injured soft tissue  

If you have sustained an injury that caused trauma to the neck it is recommended that you seek medical attention as soon as possible in order to proactively treat any issues before they may become worse.


Posted In: Auto Injury Treatment Chiropractic Whiplash Treatment