Whiplash is a medical condition that typically occurs as a result of a sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck. It is commonly associated with car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, but can also result from sports injuries, physical abuse, or other traumatic incidents.
What are the common symptoms of whiplash and what are the best whiplash treatments?
- pain
- abnormal stiffness, worse in the morning.
- blurred vision
- tenderness over the neck muscles
- reduced and painful neck movements with reduced range of motion
- headaches, sensory disturbance
- fatigue
- Dizziness
Your whiplash treatment plan will depend on the extent of your whiplash injury. Some may not need much whiplash treatment while others may need extensive whiplash treatment from a physiotherapist or specialized pain treatment. The goals of whiplash treatment are to control pain, persistent pains and aching in the back muscles and neck including shoulder bringing it back to normal activities, and restore normal range of motion.
Your doctor may also recommend one or more of the following whiplash treatments to lessen pain:
- Rest
- Over-the-counter pain medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Heat or cold
Whiplash treatment focuses on alleviating pain and stiffness in the neck, as well as healing the damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
What whiplash treatments are most commonly used?
When a whiplash injury occurs the neck muscles spasm as a protective mechanism so it is important for your therapist to relax these muscles. These whiplash treatments will consist of manual therapies which we have found to be a very effective whiplash treatment for pain relief and muscle relaxation.
Massage – A whiplash treatment that encompasses a variety of techniques to help increase blood flow, promote tissue repair, and reduce muscle spasm.
Mobilization and manipulation – A whiplash treatment which helps mobilize tissue and restore normal range of motion.
Interferential therapy – A whiplash treatment Introduces a small electrical current into the tissues and can be used at varying frequencies for differing treatment effects. E.g. pain relief, muscle or nerve stimulation, promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation.
Ultrasound therapy – A whiplash treatment which transmits sound waves through the tissues to stimulate the healing process.
Is Laser Therapy a good whiplash treatment?
Yes, Laser Therapy is an effective whiplash treatment especially during the acute phase because it requires no movement of the affected tissues so it lessens the chance of increasing symptoms during the first few days post injury.
Would spinal manipulation be an effective whiplash treatment?
Yes, spinal manipulation is an effective whiplash treatment because it helps restore normal range of motion and joint function which allows the joints to heal quicker.
Am I a Good Candidate for Whiplash Treatment?
If you have recently experienced an auto accident, sports injury, fall, or another sudden injury, you may be experiencing whiplash symptoms. If you are experiencing neck pain or stiffness, or numbness or tingling in the arm, low back pain, headaches, and tinnitus after a sudden trauma or an auto accident, there is a good chance a whiplash treatment would be beneficial for you.
How Effective Is Whiplash Treatment?
Whiplash treatment varies depending on the extent of the injury but whiplash is an injury which many individuals recover well. Some patients may need only a few whiplash treatments while others may need a more extensive whiplash treatment.
How can physiotherapy help and what are some of the best whiplash treatments they provide?
There are several physiotherapy whiplash treatments that your physiotherapist has at their disposal to treat whiplash to relieve pain and it will help our patients to make a full recovery.
Exercise program – This is a very important part of the whiplash treatment, your therapist will give you instructions as to what specific exercises would be most beneficial for your injury.
When should I start seeking whiplash treatment for my whiplash injury?
Once you get diagnosed with whiplash, book an appointment with one of our health practitioners who can assess you and provide you with the best whiplash treatment to help you recover.
