Whiplashes are usually caused by rear impact while in a stationary position. This is usually due to the impact forcing the neck to move in back and forth directions with a large amount of force.

The sudden pressure and directional change cause immense damage to the cervical spinal structure.

It is quite a common type of injury and can be the result of:

• Auto-accidents: Rear-end car accident collisions.
• Physical abuse: Sudden shaking or hitting in a direction of a person.
• Contact sports: Tackling or collisions that forcefully occur while in certain sports like football or rugby, horseback riding, volleyball, or basketball (when there’s a blow to the head)

The symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Tenderness and radiating pain in the shoulder, upper back, and/ or arms
• Tingling or numbness in the shoulder and arms
• Pain and muscle spasm in the shoulder and arms
• Worsening of neck pain with movement
• Headaches radiating from the base of the skull
• Jaw pain
• Constant weariness
• Dizziness
• Disturbances and irregularities in sleep patterns
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• The trouble with concentrating and memory
• Anxiety-related issues

Whiplashes usually appear within 24 hours and leave in a couple of weeks but in some cases, the symptoms due to whiplash-related issues persist long term.

Either way, whiplash is harmless. But, the damages caused by whiplash which lead to other issues are what can be super harmful.

Some treatments for whiplash treatments include:

• Ice or heat: Applying these to the injury site for the first 24 hours after you got hurt can reduce the intensity or even prevent damage from whiplash, but these aren’t helpful with treating whiplashes after they’ve arisen.
• Medication: OTC pain meds, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed to calm the felt conditions but these are temporary and can cause side effects upon regular use.
• Steroid injections: these are used in areas of discomfort to provide immediate relief but these can become addictive and can have very serious side effects.
• Brace or collar: The braces prevent the neck from moving and allow the neck enough time to heal and recover, this is good for simple cases but sometimes the brace just worsens the neck stiffness.
• Physical therapy: physical therapy is a great treatment for whiplashes as they strengthen the neck muscles.
• Alternative therapies: These really help whiplash recovery with their manipulation of the body. Of this type of treatment, chiropractic is a great treatment method.

Chiropractic treatments are focused on the spine and healing of the body through spinal healing.

The benefits of chiropractic for whiplash in Gig Harbor include the following:

• Reduction in inflammation and pain
• Restoration of range of motion in the neck
• Strengthen the neck muscles
• Treat and prevent headaches
• Speed up body healing speed
• Improves body immunity and raises resistance against future damage
• Better posture reduces chances of harming neck muscles
• Improved blood circulation helps the body provide the necessary healing nutrient to the neck and the areas around it to help heal the area.

The benefits of chiropractic extend beyond just physical and beyond just for whiplashes.

So if you feel like you have whiplash or want to get treated for some other issue, book an appointment with your nearest licensed Gig Harbor chiropractor and speed down your health journey.

Happy healing!