Whiplash is a term that describes a range of injuries caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck. Cervical acceleration-deceleration describes the mechanism of the injury, while whiplash associated disorders describes the injury’s result and symptoms.
This type of injury is further defined by hyper-extention (the head is dramatically thrust backward) and hyper-flexion (the head is dramatically thrust forward) of the cervical (neck) spine. Car accidents and falls are common causes of whiplash injuries.
The symptoms of whiplash include:
- headaches
- visual disturbances
- stiff neck
- restriction of movement
- shoulder, neck or arm pain
Symptoms may not manifest themselves for hours, days, months or even years after the injury occurs. It is urgent that you receive immediate care after this type of injury whether you are experiencing pain or not. Chiropractic care can restore the structural balance of your neck and spine in cases like this where they may have been compromised.
Dr. Schallmann at Back In Balance Chiropractic is ready to assist in your recovery by correctly adjusting your spine so it has the best chance to properly heal. He can also recommend physical therapy, stretching, strengthening exercises and natural anti-inflammatories that will put you back on the road to good health.
