Auto accidents often leave whiplash in their wake, a condition that causes unbearable pain and suffering for patients. The good news is that you can recover quickly from whiplash by adopting some recovery methods. Read on to learn more!
What Exactly is Whiplash?
Whiplash describes a sudden and pressure-centered back and forth movement of the head and/or neck. It is a common occurrence in auto accidents. It can also be a side effect of other circumstances that involve forceful collisions, such as sports-associated injuries.
The sudden movement of the neck in an unnatural position harms the cervical spine structures, including the nerves, muscles, and ligaments. In severe cases, the forceful impact can alter the position of your spine’s vertebrae.
The misalignment of the spine or the tearing of the soft tissues results in excruciating pain and discomfort. Hence, people suffering from whiplash desire nothing but an end to the unbearable condition.
Whiplash Recovery and Treatment
Treatment
Doctors often prescribe over-the-counter pain medications to alleviate the pain associated with whiplash. While patients with severe whiplash are given prescription pain relievers, your doctor may also prescribe a muscle relaxant to counteract muscle spasms. Some patients also swear by ice or heat, which helps minimize whiplash pain.
Recovery
Recovering from whiplash isn’t a walk in the park. It takes consistency and patience to eliminate the physical symptoms of the condition. Chiropractic is the most effective recovery strategy for whiplash injuries.
Chiropractic encompasses a broad selection of recovery methods, including manual adjustments, physiotherapy, exercise, relaxation techniques, and massage. Read on to learn how chiropractic care can aid speedy recovery for whiplash patients.
Chiropractic Care for Whiplash Recovery
Chiropractors treat the root cause of whiplash (spine misalignment) to help patients recover quickly from the painful condition. They perform chiropractic adjustments that correct the position of your spine and prevent worsening of the condition and symptoms.
A chiropractor may also perform spinal decompression, a technique that relieves pressure from the discs of your spine. The technique utilizes gentle stretches to soothe and release spine vertebrae. As such, it helps eradicate reoccurring neck and back pain that stems from whiplash.
Here are some benefits of chiropractic care for whiplash injuries:
Improves range of motion — neck stiffness is a common symptom of whiplash that prevents patients from moving their neck in any direction. With chiropractic adjustments, the neck can regain its range of motion.
Minimizes Pain and Inflammation — chiropractic care aids in the reduction and complete eradication of inflammation and pain that stems from the neck’s soft tissues. With regular chiropractic care, you may not have to rely entirely on pain relievers to minimize whiplash pain.
Restores Muscle Tone — it is not uncommon to lose the muscle tone in your neck after a whiplash injury. This may affect your day-to-day activities, but with quality chiropractic treatment, you can restore the structures in your neck and keep them in tip-top condition.
So there you have it! Follow these recovery techniques to recover from whiplash without any hassle. Embrace a chiropractic approach in your recovery strategy, and your neck will thank you!