Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog

Although whiplash is a very common occurrence in car accidents, whiplash injuries can also occur in sports, where impacts from behind are common. As a matter of fact, any activity or accident which involves the head being snapped forward and backward suddenly and rapidly can result in whiplash. Whiplash injury is a very serious reality for those victims.

Whiplash refers to an injury to the soft tissues of the neck and upper back including the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness amongst many others. Upper back and shoulder pain can also occur. Depending on the severity of the whiplash injury and the health of the person involved in the accident, whiplash injuries can heal within weeks or can linger and turn into chronic conditions that last for years and lead to pain and sometimes disability.

If you have been involved in a car accident and have sustained whiplash injury, it’s important to see a minneapolis chiropractor or medical doctor for a diagnostic evaluation and determination of the extent of your injuries. Most injuries are similar to those of muscle strains and include soft tissues injuries to the muscles and ligaments. Whiplash is a more complex injury because there may be damage to the cervical discs as well as soft tissue damage. Your chiropractor can refer you to a physician should the extent of your injuries fall outside of chiropractic alternative care.

Recent studies have shown that early movement and activity, rather than immobilization, helps reduce the symptoms of whiplash as well as encourage recovery of the upper back and neck. Your minneapolis chiropractor or physician may recommend the use of a soft cervical collar to help support the head and relieve pressure on the neck while ligaments heal. More readily available treatments for whiplash include plenty of rest, ice, compression and elevation. Ice may be applied for the first 24 hours, followed by gentle active movement. Over the counter pain medications are also helpful to reduce inflammation and pain. They are reliable and effective when used appropriately for moderate pain relief.

Neck pain and upper back injuries are one of the most common problems resulting from a car accident. Car accident neck injuries can result in symptoms such as pain in your neck, headaches, pain in your shoulders, arms or hands, reduced range of motion in your neck, numbness, weakness and slower reflexes in your arms and hands, and muscle spasms in your neck.

To understand car accident neck injuries, you have to know something about the anatomy of your spine. This is why working with doctors of chiropractic to correct whiplash type injuries makes so much sense. Chiropractors are specifically trained to deal with spinal issues resulting from impact trauma and much more. Through diagnostic examination, digital x-rays and hands on manipulation, your local chiropractor can diagnose, treat and adjust you back to optimal health.

Chiropractor focus on the treatments for different neck injuries using alternative methods of rehabilitation including adjustments, physical rehabilitation, lifestyle changes and wellness programs. However, given the severity of the neck injury your chiropractor can refer you to a medical doctor who can then assist recovery and alleviate inflammation and pain with medications and in the most serious cases surgery.

Typical neck injuries include neck sprains - whiplash where injury to the ligaments has occurred by virtue of being stretched or torn in the neck, resulting in a neck sprain, which can cause pain and stiffness. Then there are neck strains where the muscles in the neck are stretched or torn. Neck pain are typically called “pulled muscles” and often occur when the muscles are suddenly and powerfully contracted or when they stretch outside their normal range of motion. This can be the case in a car accident or even sporting accidents and collisions.

Lyn Lake Chiropractic -  Chiropractors specializing in car accident, workers compensation, whiplash injury, back pain, and much more.

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