Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury of the neck caused by a rapid movement of the head forward and then backwards. Generally whiplash injuries are more common due to car accidents but other etiologies include sports related injuries and other trauma's. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain with movement, headaches and blurred vision. Sometimes numbness and tingling can occur in the arms. Whiplash also has varying degrees of severity which affects the treatment plan and long term prognosis. For example a mild degree of whiplash can be similar to a sprain/strain injury of soft tissues elsewhere in the body which happens when the tissues are stretched beyond there normal range of motion, on the other hand whiplash can be severe in which the soft tissue structures are actually torn. Injuries sustained from whiplash can turn into a chronic condition and cause ongoing complications.

With chiropractic intervention we typically see pain levels decrease and increases in cervical range of motion (neck movement) sooner than when compared to other treatment options. I always encourage my patients to remain diligent and committed to the treatment program and to follow all home care instructions so that the best possible outcome can be obtained.