Whiplash is a common neck and upper spine injury that usually happens due to car collisions. While this is considered a mild condition, it can cause long-term pain and discomfort, affecting your mood and daily activities.
How Does Whiplash Occur?
This injury occurs when there’s too much muscle strain on your neck due to a rapid or unexpected movement backward, then forward. Sometimes, it can also go sideways. The sudden force causes hyperextension, affecting tendons and ligaments around the neck and spine.
Other causes include the following:
- Physical blows or strikes
- Full contact sports, such as boxing, football, and mixed martial arts
- Cycling accidents
- Horseback riding
- Accidental falls and slips
What are the Symptoms?
Usually, you may not feel any symptoms right after the accident. Sometimes, it may even take a few days before you feel the pain or discomfort and could last for several weeks or even more if left untreated.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Neck pain and discomfort
- Muscle stiffness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Vision problems
- Constant weariness
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
If you start to feel any symptoms, consider consulting a car accident chiropractor in Salt Lake City. Chiropractors use a more naturalistic approach in treating injuries. They perform hands-on spinal manipulation to realign the body’s musculoskeletal structure, specifically the spine. They believe in the natural healing process of the body.
Other than spinal manipulation, chiropractic treatment for whiplash also involves muscle stimulation and relaxation. The chiropractor will perform a different stretching exercise to relieve the muscles and help them relax. They also use finger pressure techniques to realign the nerves and ligaments.
Today, chiropractic treatment is becoming more popular. This is mainly because people nowadays prefer a more holistic approach. If you consider chiropractic treatment, be sure to choose a reputable clinic.