How chiropractic treatment can help address whiplash

2017

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help Address Whiplash

Chiropractic treatment is customized to individual whiplash conditions, and there is a range of treatment options involved.

www.chghealth.com

Comprehensive Healthcare Group 2856 Long Beach Road Oceanside, NY 11572

Chiropractic treatment is effective for various kinds of musculoskeletal conditions including whiplash.

Whiplash is one of those conditions that can benefit from customizable and noninvasive chiropractic services. Whiplash usually occurs in auto accidents when the neck gets injured on experiencing a sudden movement towards the back. This usually happens when you are in a vehicle that is hit from behind, causing your neck to experience sudden backward movement. This sudden movement could happen in other circumstances as well, such as while playing football or from a workplace accident. In a whiplash injury, 

The muscles and ligaments supporting the spine could be torn or overstretched



Vertebrae could be forced out of their normal position. As a result, range of motion could be reduced.



The discs between the vertebrae could tear, bulge, or rupture.



The spinal cord and nerve roots could get stretched, irritated and choked.

Conventional Treatment When whiplash strikes, you must ice your neck immediately after the injury. This is for reducing the pain and swelling. To prevent the ice from injuring the skin, you need to wrap it in a cloth and apply it to your neck for around 3 days. It must be done for a duration of 15 minutes for every 3 or 4 hours.

More serious and chronic whiplash cases require more than just applying ice. Over-thecounter NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen could help. If these are not effective, muscle and prescription painkillers may be prescribed by your doctor.

But beyond the conventional treatment, chiropractic care could prove to be a safe and effective option. Whiplash cases differ from individual to individual. Chiropractic care options therefore vary based on the specific case and the symptoms experienced. The chiropractor targets the dysfunctions that are detected during the chiropractic examination. Some of the chiropractic treatments usually employed include spinal manipulation, muscle relaxation or stimulation or both, and exercises. Lifestyle changes may also be recommended.

www.chghealth.com

Spinal Manipulation For spinal manipulation, the chiropractor moves the joint gently towards the direction where the movement is restricted. The movement applied usually involves a short thrust. Sometimes though, a slow movement is applied rather than a thrust.

Muscle Relaxation When it comes to muscle relaxation or stimulation, the chiropractor gently stretches the muscle having excessive tension. There are also finger pressure techniques applied gently to trigger points for relieving pain caused by tight muscles. Repeated contractions are also applied to the inhibited muscle.

McKenzie Exercises Many exercises are recommended as well. One of these is the McKenzie exercise regimen. This includes just

some simple movements designed

to reduce

disc

derangement caused by whiplash injury. While these movements are initially carried out in the chiropractor’s office, they can also be later done at home.

Sensorimotor and Stabilization Exercises Other exercises include sensorimotor and stabilization exercises which are usually carried out in instances of major trauma. They are aimed at correcting faulty patterns of movement in daily life. These exercises train the body’s nervous system to control and coordinate movement patterns and help the neck muscles to maintain stability.

The chiropractor would also suggest lifestyle changes to ensure that you can perform your daily activities without causing much strain to your body that is already affected by the whiplash. Stress reduction methods are also usually prescribed by the spine care professionals who are part of the chiropractic clinic.

Effective chiropractic care is customized to individual requirements. That, along with its holistic nature makes it the ideal treatment for whiplash.

www.chghealth.com