Whiplash and Chiropractic Care
Whiplash; Can Chiropractic Care Help Me?
After a whiplash injury, it is imperative that you get checked by your chiropractor as soon as possible to jumpstart the healing process. During whiplash the inertia of your body outweighs the inertia of your head, which makes it lag behind in a car accident. This creates a “whip-like” effect and causes serious damage to your neck. Your body goes through a tremendous amount of force that can potentially sprain, strain, or even tear muscles and ligaments. Without proper alignment and rehabilitation, those structures can heal in ways that are not optimal. Whiplash is far more common than most people think. We focus on offering chiropractic care in the El Dorado Hills and Folsom area and it is not uncommon for us to treat patients for whiplash while the patient did not know they had whiplash.
A normal, healthy ligament has fibers all lining up in the same direction, side by side. A ligament that has even microscopic damage will heal with scar tissue that lays down fibers in a haphazard way and can lead to adhesions and a higher likelihood of future injury. By adjusting the neck and rehabilitating the muscles and ligaments surrounding it, the new scar tissue is more likely to lay down in an organized way in response to the loads placed on them. This not only strengthens the integrity of the entire neck, but also reduces the pain during the healing process.
What should I do immediately after a whiplash trauma?
Get checked by your chiropractor as soon as possible. New scar tissue starts laying down as early as 72 hours after the injury. The sooner you can get motion into the joints that have been injured, the better your chance for full recovery. Your chiropractor will also be able to fully evaluate the stability of your neck and possibility of fracture that might have been caused by the whiplash. These need to be addressed immediately. For pain relief, consider ice therapy in the first 72 hours to reduce inflammation and pain. Talk to your chiropractor about how often and how long to apply the ice.
I was only going 10mph when I was rear-ended. I don’t think I had whiplash.
It takes speeds only as fast as 5mph to significantly impact the neck and cause an injury. Bumpers on cars today are built so that they do not collapse under small impacts. However nice that might be for your pocketbook, that means that all of the force that was generated in the impact was not absorbed by the bumper, but in turn transferred to the driver and passengers in the vehicle. Even though you may not feel pain in the first few days after a minor fender bender, it is a great idea to get checked by your chiropractor to avoid having pain three months down the road.
How does chiropractic help whiplash?
Chiropractic adjustments help to increase motion in your neck to promote healing and stabilize your neck to prevent further injury in the future. As a result, you have less pain, increased function, and less worry about the future. There is no reason to be debilitated after a whiplash accident, so do something about it today and see your chiropractor for a consult and exam!
El Dorado Hills Chiropractor, Dr. Judd Lowrey , has been serving the Folsom and El Dorado Hills community for over 10 years. Lowrey Chiropractic is one of the only offices to combine the latest in chiropractic care with the most advanced sports therapy, sports chiropractic and soft tissue treatments available.
