Most people are familiar with the term whiplash;; however it is commonly overused or misused. When you have been told you have whiplash, you might feel concerned or unsure about what it is or how you can treat it. At the same time, you might wonder whether or not chiropractic treatment, or other conservative treatments, can help you.
Understanding Whiplash
Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs from rapid, forceful back and forth movement of the spine. If you can imagine a pulling a live tree branch back and then letting it spring forward back and forth – that is the same, or similar motion that can cause a whiplash injury.
Whiplash can lead to a broad range of structural injuries including:
- Pulled ligaments and tendons
- Restricted range of motion
- Splinting of muscles
- Damage to proprioceptors
In some cases, damage to the spinal discs and nerves can occur. All of these injuries can lead to various symptoms including:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Ringing of the ears
- Blurred vision
- Sleep problems
Some people report they feel as if they are experienced clouded thinking, or are having consistent brain fog. In general, the more severe the injury is, the more severe the symptoms will be. It is always recommended to be evaluated by a medical doctor to ensure there are no life threatening injuries.
How Whiplash Happens
Most people relate whiplash to a car accident, but this is not the only way it can happen. It is the motion that causes the injury. Anything that causes a forceful back and forth movement can cause whiplash. This might include any accident, sports playing, slipping and falling, or practically anywhere else in a given set of circumstances.
Conservative Chiropractic Care
Most people with whiplash will find that conservative treatment approaches will offer an optimal opportunity to heal. Care for any injury, including whiplash, is unique to the person. However, chiropractic treatment is one of the most effective, natural approaches to treating whiplash. Chiropractic treatment can help to restore range of motion which tends to be extremely compromised when whiplash is involved.
Once the range of motion is restored, the chiropractic treatment can improve the functioning of the nervous system. This results in an improvement of communication between the nervous system and body. When there is optimal communication, the best healing scenario can result.
In addition to the aforementioned, chiropractic treatment can alleviate stress and tension that is placed on the tissues of the neck. The adjustment stimulates proprioceptors in the joint; thus enabling the body to reposition itself. Lymphatic flow, also known as the transportation of toxins through the body, and out of it through certain areas, is improved with the treatment. This can boost the healing process. A chiropractor might also recommend ice, stretching, certain exercises, herbs, and other alternative options.
Whiplash can be painful, but it does not have to be debilitating. With minimal intervention, and precise whiplash treatment in Essex, MD, your body can heal. Call a clinic today for a chiropractic adjustment.
Thanks to Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic for their insight into chiropractic care and whiplash from a car accident.
