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Whiplash injury symptoms can make life seem unbearable. But there’s good news: you can find relief.
Seeing a chiropractor for whiplash injuries is a fantastic way to get on a faster path to healing and recovery. Whiplash chiropractors have experience working with those suffering from neck injuries and can develop a personalized plan to treat your unique symptoms. Many patients report feeling better within a few short sessions – without invasive measures like surgery or narcotic pain medication. Your treatment may even be covered by insurance.
At ChiroCare of Florida, we have convenient locations with extended evening hours available. With more than twenty-five years of experience in the chiropractic industry, we provide superior healthcare to countless residents. In addition to all major insurance policies, our offices accept auto insurance coverage and workers’ compensation benefits to ensure easy access to affordable care.
Keep reading to learn more about the effects of whiplash, the causes and risks associated with “whiplash neck,” and how our providers can help. Then, contact us today to schedule your first appointment. Experience better living through better healing with ChiroCare of Florida.
“Whiplash neck” occurs when the neck is abruptly forced forward and backward. We call it whiplash because the spinal cord moves in the motion of a whip during the process. The result is often excruciating pain. Whiplash can damage the neck’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. The most common cause of whiplash, car accidents, affects more than three million Americans each year.
Without proper treatment, patients often fail to heal properly. Additionally, leaving whiplash untreated can lead to long-term side effects and lasting pain. However, fast recovery is possible with the help of a whiplash chiropractor.
Several common whiplash symptoms often present following an accident. These include:
Many patients find this pain to be debilitating, affecting every aspect of their daily lives. This makes finding a chiropractor for whiplash treatment essential.
Millions of people suffer from whiplash injuries each year. Untreated, this can lead to chronic pain. The most common causes and risk factors for whiplash injury include:
Older individuals and women are more likely to experience whiplash. The risk of whiplash increases with age, and most injuries result from low-speed collisions.
While car speed is a significant factor impacting the injury’s severity, studies show that crashes at just six mph to 8 mph can result in overextension of the neck.
Since whiplash can lead to traumatic brain injury and psychological issues from chronic pain, seeking treatment quickly is crucial. While the majority of people recover within just a few days or weeks, others suffer for months or years. Approximately 1.5 million Americans are living with long-term pain from whiplash accidents, and an additional 300,000 individuals are permanently disabled as a result of an injury.
Seeing a chiropractor for whiplash is often one of the first lines of treatment. Whiplash chiropractors have notable experience providing services targeted at treating the neuro-skeletal system. That means that they can address the misaligned vertebrae and any soft tissue damage to surrounding muscles and ligaments – all in a single visit.
A whiplash chiropractor will focus on realigning the spine, reducing inflammation, relieving nerve pressure, and improving mobility. All of these techniques work together to address pain and reduce whiplash injury symptoms. Treatment sessions are quick, and many patients report zero adverse side effects.
Each person and their whiplash injury are unique. The circumstances surrounding your recovery will depend on several factors, including the injury’s severity, your medical history, and treatment goals. Additionally, our whiplash chiropractors keep your comfort paramount at all times.
We’ll work together to form personalized care for faster recovery. Your care plan may include physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, massage, manual adjustments, instrument-assisted techniques, and more. No two people are alike, so no two treatment plans should be, either.
Since so many Americans suffer from long-term complications associated with whiplash injury, preventing these chronic ailments is our primary goal. Long-term complications of whiplash include:
The best way to prevent these complications is to seek professional whiplash treatment promptly following an injury. In fact, a whiplash chiropractor can often begin seeing patients in the 24 hours following an accident. Many people find that scheduling ongoing maintenance visits with a chiropractor is the best way to heal and ward off pain in the future.
There are several common techniques that whiplash chiropractors use to address pain and promote healing. Your provider will perform a comprehensive assessment of your injury and symptoms, review your medical history, and work with you to form a treatment plan that best addresses your unique symptoms.
Common techniques for treating whiplash include:
Spinal adjustments are one of the most popular techniques for treating whiplash. A chiropractor will have you sit or lie on a table during the adjustment and mobilization. Here, they’ll identify precisely which vertebrae are misaligned to return them to the proper position.
This process helps restore alignment, reduce inflammation, minimize pain, and promote proper healing. A whiplash chiropractor will use their hands to apply controlled force to specific areas of the spine, targeting the neck, upper back, and shoulders. You might hear a popping or cracking sound, simply releasing gas bubbles from the joints.
Since whiplash injury symptoms affect the neck’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons, soft tissue therapy is often necessary to treat the associated pain. These techniques can include gentle exercises and stretching routines. Soft tissue therapy relieves tension, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing in these affected areas.
Throughout this process, a whiplash chiropractor will perform targeted kneading, stroking, and pressing on muscles to release tension and improve circulation. They may perform myofascial release to address tightness and restrictions in the connective tissue surrounding muscles.
Trigger point therapy will target any knots, relieving localized and referred pain. Additionally, a chiropractor may use soft tissue techniques like hot and cold therapy, active release techniques, and more to restore flexibility.
Your recovery period may be brief, with a healing time of just a few weeks. Other whiplash patients experience pain for months or years following an accident. Here are a few recovery tips to help you feel better faster.
Maintaining good posture is key following a whiplash injury. Good posture helps ensure your spinal cord remains aligned, even after a chiropractic visit. You should always sit straight, keep your shoulders back, and avoid slouching. Make sure your workstation is ergonomic, promoting proper positioning.
Many people find that adding ergonomic support to their workstations, driver’s seats and home spaces helps with this. Lumbar support pillows, shoulder position braces, and adjustable chairs are all excellent additions. Talk to your chiropractor about which products may be right for you.
Stretching is an important part of the recovery process for whiplash, as it helps improve flexibility, reduce muscle tension, and restore range of motion. After seeing a chiropractor for whiplash, they’ll likely recommend you complete a few gentle stretches at home between sessions to maintain progress.
The following stretches may be beneficial for those recovering from whiplash:
Never begin a new stretching routine without seeking the advice of your provider. Some stretches may be contraindicated depending on your unique injury and pain.
Always seek medical care immediately following an accident. If you’re in a motor vehicle accident, visit your nearest emergency room or urgent care center for a prompt evaluation. Once comfortable at home post-discharge, contact a whiplash chiropractor. We can begin treatment as soon as you’re feeling up to leaving the house.
Many people don’t notice the symptoms of whiplash for several hours, or sometimes days, following an accident. If possible, it’s best to seek treatment before symptoms even arise. However, we can begin chiropractic sessions at any time.
Don’t wait – whiplash pain often worsens without treatment. Schedule an appointment with ChiroCare of Florida now to start your recovery today!
Our expert team is here to help you recover, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life following whiplash injury symptoms. We accept all major insurance plans, auto policies, and workers’ compensation to ensure access to care. Better living starts with better healing.
Call now: 833-4-PAIN-800.
