Whiplash is an injury commonly associated with car wrecks or accidental injuries at high rates of speed. It affects the soft tissue muscles of the neck and is caused by a motion that causes the neck to move in a way that is not within its usual range of motion. The scientific and medical terms for whiplash are acceleration flexion-extension neck injury and soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. The severity of this injury depends on how far out of the normal range of motion the neck traveled.

The severity of the injury changes the different treatment options available to you. The normal medical procedures for whiplash, moderate to severe includes the use of a neck brace and oral muscle relaxers. This kind of therapy can alleviate pain temporarily, but might not protect you against the long term effects of Whiplash. The long term effects of whiplash include chronic neck pain, difficulty moving your neck in certain directions, and the occasional sharp pain shooting from the neck to the shoulders.

Long term treatment and rehabilitation of Whiplash patients is limited in the general medical field. However, a chiropractor might be suggested to the patient by their general health provider. These doctors are experienced in dealing with the spinal column, back muscles, and neck vertebrae. Most treatments used by Chiropractors are non-evasive, and prescription medication will not be administered.

The usual treatments for Whiplash in a Chiropractors office consists of an initial in-depth health evaluation with a physical targeted on the spine and neck areas, followed by a well developed plan for muscle adjustments. X-Rays might be taken at this time, so the Chiropractor can get a better idea of the patient’s injuries. On following visits, a series of spine and neck adjustments will be administered. These are non-evasive but hands on treatments, which include targeted muscle manipulation. Depending on the office, several other treatments might be available. This includes heat and ice treatment, electric stimulation, massage therapy, and several other alternative treatments.

This kind of therapy drastically reduces the chances of future inflammation of the neck and other problems. Depending on the severity of the Whiplash, Chiropractors might keep the patient in treatment for several weeks or several months.

If you have experienced Whiplash as the result of a car accident, or an accidental injury then contacting Richard Schwartz and Associates might be beneficial to you. .