Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that often occurs because of a car accident or similar event, even if the crash occurred at low speeds.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash, a neck injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth motion of the head, can cause neck pain, discomfort, and limited mobility in the upper spine. When left untreated, whiplash can cause long-term discomfort, pain, and limited range of motion and mobility.
Thankfully, whiplash can be treated through chiropractic care. If you’ve been involved in an accident, it’s highly recommended that you visit a chiropractor as soon as possible, even if you’re experiencing only mild discomfort. Pain and discomfort from whiplash isn’t always an immediate occurrence, it can take days and even weeks after the event to appear —but your body may already be attempting to heal poorly.
Long-term Impacts of Untreated Whiplash
Within the first 72 hours of the accident, your body is already starting to lay down the scar tissue that is needed for joint and muscle repair. During this time, and for the next 4-6 weeks, your body is most susceptible to poor healing. Scar tissue can form incorrectly, leading to adhesions that, if left untreated, could decrease mobility and lead to arthritis. Some of the more serious issues that can occur if you don’t seek chiropractic care for whiplash are tinnitus (ringing in the ear), vertigo, dizziness, and chronic headaches.
These symptoms, along with ongoing or chronic neck pain, can cause a significant impact on your quality of life.
How Can Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash Improve Your Health?
While whiplash itself is very rarely life-threatening, it’s still important to address care with a chiropractor if you don’t want to deal with long-term side effects. An appointment with a chiropractor will involve them checking the state of your neck and back, and performing spinal manipulation, if necessary, to get you back into alignment. Your chiropractor may use heat therapy, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, traction, cold laser, and other methods to help alleviate any pain or discomfort. You may also be sent home with exercises that you can perform from the comfort of your own home!
The chiropractors at Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic are trained not only to detect injury, but also to maximize your body’s natural healing potential. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic to schedule an appointment for an evaluation and treatment for whiplash.