Whiplash occurs when the neck is taken beyond the extremes of its range of movement by a significant force. It is most often caused by car accidents but can also be caused by sports injuries & falls.
If you have whiplash you may be experiencing the following:
Neck Pain
Stiffness
Loss of range of motion
Headaches (usually starting at the base of your skull)
Fatigue
Dizziness
Whiplash can occur when you are travelling at surprisingly low speeds and this can lead to joint dysfunction in the neck and back. This will often slow down the recovery process as the brain isn't getting the accurate information it needs to heal the tissues and reduce the pain. If a whiplash injury isn't treated straight away it can develop into chronic neck pain with long-lasting issues. Your chiropractor is a great place to start to have your joints assessed and treated before it becomes a long standing issue.
There things you can do at home to help along your recovery:
Rest - giving the muscles time to repair
Heat & cold - alternate between these two over an hour period.
Arnica - to help support the muscle repair from the inside out
PNF stretching - this is a specific type of stretch that resets the muscle fibers (you can talk to your chiropractor to find out more about it)
If you have had an accident or injury in the past or are experiencing symptoms, please contact us to book an assessment.
Book online at cromwellchiropractic.co.nz or call 03 445 4688.
Our aim is to restore correct function to the joints and nervous system and help you feel fantastic!
Ashleigh Tucker (Chiropractor)