Often occurring after a car accident, whiplash is a neck muscle injury that is the result of rapid forward and backward motion of the neck. It’s called whiplash because it occurs when the head whips back and forth; this motion causes the ligaments and muscle in the neck to stretch and often tear or strain. Symptoms of whiplash include acute neck pain and limited neck movement. Unfortunately, without the proper treatment, whiplash injuries can result in chronic pain that lasts for many years.
Whiplash can occur after trauma from things like high-impact sports, amusement park rides, or sudden falls, but the most common cause is auto accidents. It can cause neck stiffness and pain in the neck, arm, shoulder and back pain, blurred vision, headaches, extreme fatigue, vertigo or dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. What’s more, car accidents are traumatic, causing many people to suffer PTSD as well as physical injuries. Recent research indicates that experiencing PTSD after an auto accident raises a person’s risk of pain, disability, and worse physical symptoms. The physical and psychological damage after an accident leads people to seek car accident treatment, and one of the best types of whiplash treatment is chiropractic care.
How does Chiropractic treatment help whiplash injuries? Chiropractic care focuses on treating the whole person, and chiropractors often work with primary care physicians and other kinds of therapists to help people heal from the physical and psychological wounds of a car accident. What’s more, chiropractic treatment is effective for whiplash because it addresses not just the neck, but the entire spine and the patient’s overall health, with an emphasis on prevention as the key to a healthy life. Chiropractors use several different techniques for whiplash care, during different stages of whiplash treatment. In the early stages, soon after the injury occurs, the focus will be on reducing neck inflammation, using therapy like ultrasound as well as gentle stretching and manual therapy techniques like therapeutic massage and trigger point therapy. An ice pack and light neck support may be advised to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Other chiropractic techniques include:
If you need treatment for whiplash, trust Oregon Medical Centers for chiropractic care. Founded in 1989 as First Choice Chiropractic, Oregon Medical Centers was established in 2018 after adding Medical Providers and becoming an integrated medical facility. Specialists in treating car accident and workplace injuries, we also treat conditions like sciatica, pinched nerves, TMJ, neck and back pain, headaches, joint pain, and much more. We offer chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage, and regenerative medicine, and we specialize in diagnosing and treating chronic pain. Our dedicated medical team provides high-level care and compassion for patients in a collaborative environment where patients get the best possible treatment. What’s more, our insurance department assists in the insurance process, to alleviate stress for patients and allow them to focus on getting better. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (503) 390-1552 in Salem, (503) 642-2845 in Aloha, or contact us through our website.
