Whiplash is a trauma that occurs in the neck and is typically an acute injury from an accident. It can cause many discomforts and make your daily routine challenging. Sometimes whiplash goes unnoticed immediately after the event that caused it, but the patient can start to feel symptoms hours, even days later.
When the neck is injured, several aspects of life can be affected, so getting quick, effective, and safe relief is usually a priority. Fortunately, there are several responsible ways to find whiplash relief and help your body heal without using pain-masking medications.
This article goes over:
- What is whiplash?
- Common whiplash symptoms
- How to treat whiplash at home
- Chiropractic services for whiplash
- And more
Let’s get straight to it.
What is Whiplash?
When the neck is suddenly and violently thrust backward and forward, the soft tissues can become stretched, extending beyond their usual range of motion. The injury caused by this rapid motion is called whiplash and creates numerous symptoms and obstacles.
Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Dull, aching neck pain
- Sharp, shooting neck pain
- Neck stiffness or weakness
- Loss of range of motion and flexibility in the neck
- Neck pain that worsens over hours or days
- Shock sensations in your neck, back, or arms
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches
Common causes of whiplash include:
- Rear-ended auto accidents
- Slip and falls
- Sports injuries
- Blows to the chin
- Aggressive pulling on the arms
- Tackles
Because whiplash usually happens after an impactful accident, it’s always best to be prepared and protected proactively whenever possible.
Physically Active People
For those who participate in physical activity, always wear the proper equipment and use correct form and technique while playing your sport or exercising.
Drivers and Passengers
For those who drive or ride in vehicles, always keep your headrest set correctly. The top should be around the same level as the top of your head and no more than three inches away from you.
How to Treat Whiplash Now
Of course, prevention is what you want, but by nature, accidents are hard to detect and harder to avoid. So, what should you do if you have whiplash and you need safe pain relief right now?
Tips to help relieve whiplash symptoms naturally at home:
- Apply ice- icing the neck and shoulders will help keep inflammation at bay and improve comfort
- Support your neck- use a U-pillow or neck brace to give your neck some extra support
- Rest- if your activities require neck use (most do), take a break and remove pressure from the neck
- Stretch- give your neck some gentle stretches to help strengthen those injured tissues (listen to your body, if stretching causes further pain, stop doing it)
- Massage- lightly work the neck muscles and shoulders to release tension build-up
Organic at-home remedies for whiplash can help you find comfort and may even contribute to the healing process, but seeking chiropractic care will help you achieve lasting results by treating the injury.
Chiropractic Methods to End Whiplash
Chiropractic solutions are relied upon for their non-invasive, holistic treatment for conditions related to the body’s soft tissues, joints, and spine, which, obviously, includes whiplash. After a traumatic event, most of us want to avoid other traumatic events, such as surgery or aggressive forms of recovery.
Chiropractic care is a great way to get relief. Experienced chiropractors take a comprehensive approach to treatment, ensuring each part of the musculoskeletal system and spine are fully functioning.
There are various chiropractic services to help relieve whiplash, including:
When in pain, it’s important to find the cause of your symptoms so the injury can be treated, not covered up. Your chiropractic care team will design the right plan for you, one that meets all your criteria so you get optimal results.
Visit Our Orem Chiropractic Clinic for Whiplash Care
If you’ve been in an accident and think you have whiplash, we’d love to work with you in our clinic. Our whiplash chiropractic team is dedicated to your safe, fast, and effective recovery process. We know you want to get back to your active, fulfilling lifestyle, and we want to make sure that happens.
Schedule your appointment with our Orem chiropractic team today.