What Happens When You Get Whiplash?

Neck pain out of nowhere? Whiplash isn’t just caused by motor vehicle accidents–a fall or athletic injury can also cause it.

Who knew a fun day at the amusement park could result in a whiplash injury?

When they hear the word, “whiplash,” most people immediately picture a rear-end motor vehicle accident. But there are other ways that whiplash injuries can occur, including:

• Assault, such as being punched or shaken
• Roller coaster rides
• Sports, especially football or boxing
• Falls

A whiplash injury occurs when the cervical spine (neck) is stretched beyond its normal range of motion in a forward (flexion), backward (extension) or sideways movement.

The discs between the vertebrae, along with their associated muscles, tendons and ligaments can be stretched or torn, resulting in symptoms such as:

• Neck pain, stiffness or tenderness
• Headache and dizziness
• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle spasms
• Irritability and memory loss
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears

How Chiropractic Can Help

These symptoms and related pain can show up either immediately, hours, days, weeks or even months after the impact that caused the whiplash injury. And the pain and discomfort can last for months, even a lifetime.

People often down play the extent of their injuries initially after an accident, fall or abusive injury. Whether they are temporarily benefiting from the numbing release of adrenaline or sometimes the embarrassment associated with the incident, this can cause serious problems later on. Most of the injury is to the important  disc, ligaments or spinal joints. The alignment of the natural curves can be affected and this leads to lasting chronic tension in the muscles and irritation to the spinal nerves. Without the skillful examination and precise correction provided by a chiropractor these injured structures may heal incorrectly never to be the same again. The simple message is without the benefit of a spinal examination it’s difficult to know if you have been injured by whiplash.

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The goal of chiropractic care is to return neck joints affected by whiplash to their normal position to relieve stress on affected nerves and strain on affected muscles so that proper healing can take place. We are dedicated to your gentle, effective and safe return to health and wellness.  Know someone who might benefit from our care? Contact us today.