29 March 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Whiplash is a common, but painful, condition that affects the neck muscles. It most commonly occurs in those who have been in an auto accident, but it might also present itself during sporting accidents. While whiplash is annoying, it usually isn't life-threatening. But that doesn't mean you can forgo treatment. In order to speed up healing and reduce pain, those suffering from whiplash should visit a chiropractor.

Why?

A chiropractor can offer a variety of different treatment options to improve healing and reduce pain. Some common treatments a chiropractor might use for whiplash include these three:

1. Spinal Manipulation

The most common treatment option for whiplash is spinal manipulation. This technique is very effective, as it helps to realign the muscles, bones, and nerve endings in the neck and back. It might be simple, but it really helps to speed healing and reduce painful symptoms.

For this treatment, the chiropractor will use their hands to help realign the neck. However, they might also use a traction table to help realign the neck or back.

2. Muscle Relaxation and Stimulation

Another treatment option for whiplash injuries are muscle stimulation or relaxation. This treatment uses gentle stretching to help relieve tension in the neck or back. If the muscle is particularly tight, the doctor might also use finger pressure or more vigorous stretches to relieve the pain and tenderness of tight muscles.

3. Exercises and Lifestyle Changes

Your chiropractor might also teach you some different exercises that you can do to relieve the symptoms of whiplash. These exercises will help to realign the bones and muscles. They will also help reduce the pain of displaced discs in the neck and back.

Your doctor might also have you perform some exercises or lifestyle modifications for a few weeks at home. These techniques will help lessen the strain on your neck muscles, which will speed recovery. For example, you might need to keep your head propped at night while sleeping to help support your neck and its muscles. Additionally, your doctor might give you some stretches or exercises to help with stress.

While whiplash might be annoying and painful, it is usually fairly easy to treat with chiropractic care. However, it is important to remember that you will need multiple visits to truly recover from your injuries. If you are in pain due to whiplash from an accident, contact a local chiropractor in your area to learn more about treatment options. Contact a business, such as TLC Chiropractic, for more information.