Whiplash/Automotive Accidents

What is whiplash?

The term “whiplash” refers to when your head is rapidly jerked and moved backwards, forwards or sideways. The extreme nature of this motion makes your neck move beyond its normal range of movement, which in turn overstretches your ligaments, tendons and muscles. Unlike a broken bone where a simple x-ray can validate the presence of the fracture and identify suitable medical treatments, whiplash injuries involve an unpredictable combination of nervous system, muscles joints and connective tissue disruption that are difficult to diagnose and treat.

Some of the most common causes of whiplash include:

  • Automotive accidents
  • A sudden blow to the head
  • A slip or fall wherein your head is suddenly jerked
  • Being struck on the head by a heavy object
  • Sports related injuries

After an incident such as these, the symptoms of whiplash may take between 6 and 12 hours to develop. It is common for whiplash sufferers to feel more severe neck stiffness or pains the day after the accident; pain which may continue to escalate in the following days.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, it is advisable you seek care for a whiplash injury:

  • Neck Pain and stiffness
  • Tenderness over your neck muscles
  • Reduced and painful neck movements
  • Headaches
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Pain, numbness or pins and needles in your arms and hands
  • Muscle spasms
  • Dizziness
  • Tiredness
  • Blurred vision
  • Vertigo (i.e. the sensation that you are moving or spinning whilst standing still)

Fortunately, with sufficient care, whiplash injuries can be significantly healed within 6 to 9 months. However, if left untreated, over 20% of whiplash sufferers continue to experience pain, weakness or restricted movement two years after their injuries.

How FulhamBackCare can help

To avoid a whiplash injury potentially escalating into a permanent condition, we recommend you undergo a combination of Chiropractic Care, rehabilitation of the soft tissues and home care, all under the supervision of professional healthcare practitioners.

At FulhamBackCare, we utilise manual adjustments of the spine to restore the correct biomechanical functional movement of your spinal vertebrae. This approach, especially when coupled with deep tissue massage, exercise rehabilitation and soft tissue rehabilitation, including acupuncture to help alleviate the symptoms, has proven to be quite effective. Supplementary home care soft tissue rehabilitation treatments can also provide alleviation from pain and aid nerve and muscle rehabilitation.

These care applications include:

  • Applying ice packs to the affected area
  • Limiting your work and daily activities
  • Undergoing specific stretches and exercises
  • Taking nutritional supplements
  • Getting plenty of rest

For more information on chiropractic care for your whiplash, why not call FulhamBackCare today and begin to revitalise your health and wellbeing!