What is the best chiropractic treatment for whiplash?
Chiropractic Manipulation for Whiplash. The primary whiplash treatment for joint dysfunction, spinal manipulation involves the chiropractor gently moving the involved joint into the direction in which it is restricted.
How long does it take to recover from whiplash?
The treatment program may include a combination of modalities such as chiropractic manipulation, muscle relaxation/stimulation, McKenzie exercises and ergonomic lifestyle changes. Recovery from a whiplash injury can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
What are the symptoms of whiplash after an accident?
The most common symptom of whiplash is neck pain. Most symptoms of whiplash will appear within 24 hours after the accident. Whiplash symptoms can last for several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
How many times should I go to the chiropractor?
If it isn’t clear – speak up, they will be happy to go over it with you as many times as you need. Your chiropractor will work with you to alleviate pain and get you back to feeling good as quickly as possible. Ultimately, the goal should be to reduce chiropractic care to a point where it's needed, rather than continuous regular visits.
How long is therapy for whiplash?
After two weeks of physical therapy for whiplash, your body will start to heal. You'll still continue using many of the treatments we mentioned above. However, this is also a good time for you to start returning to normal daily activities.
Can chiropractic cure whiplash?
Chiropractic adjustments can provide rapid and long-term relief of inflammation and pain in the soft tissues of your neck that result from whiplash. In many cases, you can even reduce your reliance on pain medications after regular chiropractic treatments.
How long should chiropractic sessions last?
A chiropractic visit typically lasts for up to 30 minutes. An introductory visit typically lasts longer than a “routine” visit. You can expect your chiropractor to ask you questions regarding your objectives and health history during your initial visit.
Should you see a chiropractor after whiplash?
If you're diagnosed with whiplash injury after receiving medical care from your car accident, don't wait to see a chiropractor. Waiting for a settlement can sometimes take weeks or months – by which time your injuries could worsen. Most insurance policies cover chiropractic care after a car accident.
Is physical therapy or chiropractor better for whiplash?
Physical therapy is great in treating whiplash, breaks, fractures, shoulder dislocation and injuries in the spinal cord. It alleviates pain and promotes faster recovery and restoration.
How do I realign my neck after whiplash?
Put your hand on your forehead and push forwards against your hand; then put your hand behind your head and push backwards against your hand. Maintain the force for 10 seconds and then gradually release. Repeat these seven exercises about ten times every hour. Each day stretch your neck a little further.
How many chiropractic sessions do I need for neck pain?
For many musculoskeletal conditions that cause back or neck pain, 2 to 3 visits to the chiropractor per week for a few weeks should start bringing noticeable symptom relief.
Why do chiropractors want you to keep coming back?
Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again.
Why do chiropractors require so many visits?
To achieve maximum benefits, most injury and pain types will need somewhere between four and twelve sessions. Ongoing maintenance is used to prevent pain from coming back and to prevent additional injuries from forming due to a misalignment of the spine.
Why you should see a chiropractor after a car accident?
After a car accident, there may be herniated discs, subluxations, strained tissues and more–a series of adjustments can straighten these issues out so that you'll return to having full mobility and being free of pain.
Is it good to go to a chiropractor after a car accident?
In short, the answer is yes, you should always see a doctor or chiropractor following an auto accident. If you were the victim in a crash caused by someone else being reckless, then you should most definitely see an accident injury chiropractor after the incident.
What do you say to a chiropractor after a car accident?
He'll want to know how the car was hit and at what speed, but what is particularly important to him is your body's reaction to the accident. Make sure you tell him what hurts (if anything) if there are any particular movements or positions that are painful and the severity of the pain.
Identifying Whiplash
One of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents, whiplash usually appears within a couple of days of the incident, whether it was a crash or a sports injury.
Common Whiplash Treatments
The central practice in chiropractic care is spinal manipulation, often called adjustments, in which pressure or force are placed on the spine in the areas that need alignment. When treating whiplash, many chiropractors in Atlanta employ flexion-distraction, which is a gentle technique that uses slower, softer motions to push discs into place.
Length of Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question of how long treatment will last. Each case of whiplash is different, and factors like severity, other injuries, and how you respond to treatment can change the duration. Throughout treatment, your chiropractor in Atlanta will assess your pain levels and range of motion to adjust as needed.
What is the treatment for whiplash?
The chiropractor's primary whiplash treatment for related muscle dysfunction, muscle relaxation and/or stimulation consist of gentle stretches to the muscle that has excessive tension or repeated contractions of the muscle that is inhibited.
How does whiplash treatment work?
Such whiplash treatment trains the nervous system to better coordinate and control movement patterns, and improves the ability of the neck muscles to maintain stability of the neck.
What is spinal manipulation?
Also known as a chiropractic adjustment, spinal manipulation may involve the application of a short thrust in that direction. In many cases, instead of a thrust, a slow mobilizing movement is used by the chiropractor.
Can chiropractic care help with whiplash?
Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash. Because each individual case of whiplash is different, it is not possible to generalize about the chiropractic whiplash treatment. The appropriate chiropractic treatment is unique to each whiplash injury and is directed at the primary dysfunctions detected during the chiropractic exam. ...
What is whiplash in chiropractic?
Your chiropractor will also feel for tenderness, tightness, and how well your spinal joints move. Whiplash is an injury often affecting the soft tissues of the cervical spine. Sudden and rapid backward (hyperextension) ...
How to heal neck after whiplash?
He or she may also use gentle stretching and manual therapy techniques (eg, muscle energy therapy, a type of stretching).
What does a chiropractor do?
The chiropractor evaluates your spine as a whole— even if you go to the chiropractor complaining of neck pain following a trauma. He or she will examine the entire spine because other regions of the spine may be affected (not just your neck). The chiropractor identifies any areas of restricted joint motion, intervertebral disc injury, muscle spasm, ...
How to treat a herniated disc?
Your treatment plan depends on the severity of your whiplash injury. The most common chiropractic technique is spinal manipulation. Some spinal manipulation techniques commonly used are: 1 Flexion-distraction technique: This hands-on technique is a gentle, non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation to help treat herniated discs with or without arm pain. Your whiplash injury may have aggravated a bulging or herniated disc. The chiropractor uses a slow pumping action on the disc instead of direct force to the spine. 2 Instrument-assisted manipulation: This technique is another non-thrusting technique chiropractors often use. Using a specialized hand-held instrument, the chiropractor applies force without thrusting into the spine. This type of manipulation is useful for older patients who have a degenerative joint syndrome. 3 Specific spinal manipulation: The chiropractor identifies spinal joints that are restricted or show abnormal motion (called subluxations ). Using this technique, he or she will help restore motion to the joint with a gentle thrusting technique. This gentle thrusting stretches soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to restore normal motion to the spine.
How to help a neck that is inflamed?
The chiropractor may also recommend you apply an ice pack on your neck and/or a light neck support to use for a short period of time. As your neck becomes less inflamed and the pain decreases, your chiropractor will perform gentle spinal manipulation or other chiropractic techniques to restore normal motion to your neck's facet joints.
What is whiplash in the neck?
Written by Stewart G. Eidelson, MD. Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles from rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by a trauma (eg, a car accident). It can cause acute (short-term) neck pain as well as restricted movement in your neck.
How to reduce neck pain?
Interferential electrical stimulation: This technique uses a low frequency electrical current to help stimulate muscles, which can ultimately reduce inflammation. Ultrasound: By increasing blood circulation, ultrasound can help decrease muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain in your neck.
Who is Susceptible to Whiplash Injuries?
Although most people associate whiplash with rear-end car collisions, there are several other causes including: roller coasters, contact sports, horseback riding, cycling accidents, physical abuse, and falls in which the head violently jerks backwards. In addition, gender, age, and prior injury can predispose a person to a whiplash injury.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash injuries can vary greatly in terms of onset and severity, but some common symptoms are as follows:
Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash Injuries
In the acute phase of whiplash, from onset to 3 months, a chiropractic doctor will focus on reducing inflammation of the neck’s soft tissues through gentle stretching, manual therapy techniques, and the application of cryotherapy (ice).
What to expect after a chiropractic diagnosis?
What Should You Expect After Your Diagnosis? There are different stages of chiropractic care, urgent, rehabilitative and maintenance. During the urgent phase, you may need treatment several times during the first few weeks. This is common after an accident or an injury when persistent pain is present .
What is feedback in chiropractic?
Feedback is an incredible tool for both the patient and their chiropractic doctor. In conjunction with your adjustments, your chiropractor will most likely ask you to begin some form of exercise at home. Be sure to clarify with your doctor exactly what is expected of you.
Can chiropractic adjustments help with pain?
Your chiropractor can help develop a treatment plan that is right for you , and monitor your progress.
Do you need long term care for a chiropractor?
Chiropractic care plays an important role in your health throughout life, which means you may need long-term care. Similar to seeing a doctor for routine checkups, you will want to see a chiropractor for routine care as well.
Can you see a chiropractor if you don't go to the office?
There are many myths about chiropractic care, which is why it’s important to do research, get all the facts, and come to your own conclusion about seeing a chiropractic physician for pain relief. If you don't visit a chiropractor's office, you won't actually know what course of treatment would be prescribed.
Does chiropractic help with back pain?
If you suffer from back pain on occasion or have suffered minor injuries, chiropractic treatment can help with minor aches and pains and help you heal. Adjustments can help realign your vertebra so your nervous system functions correctly. Your frequency of visits will vary, as will the length of treatment. As you progress, your chiropractor will be ...
Identifying Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash and other car accident injuries can often have delayed symptoms due to the shock and stress of the accident. During a traumatic event like a car accident, your adrenaline gets pumping and can actually mask certain pain symptoms temporarily.
Getting Treatment for Whiplash
Treatment for whiplash will include addressing your symptoms and also the root cause of your pain. Chiropractic treatment for whiplash utilizes a comprehensive and all-natural approach to your healing and recovery. Here are three beneficial forms of treatment for a whiplash injury after a car accident.
How Long Whiplash Can Affect You
The sooner you get started on chiropractic treatment for whiplash, the sooner you will start experiencing pain relief. If you put off going to the doctor then you risk developing complications or chronic pain.
