There are many people out there who are dealing with the pains of whiplash after a car accident. It can be so severe that they're not able to carry out the most menial daily tasks. It can also be something that prevents you from being able to turn your head to the side. No matter what the intensity is, it shouldn't be left untreated.

Some cases (even the mildest ones) can create muscle stiffness, causing long-term chronic pain. If you recently developed whiplash, from a car accident or someone pulling your arm in one direction while you turn the other way, visiting a chiropractor could be the key to healing.

What Can Cause Whiplash?

Whiplash happens when a person's head is jolted forward or backward, and the muscles in the neck are stretched to absorb the majority of the pressure. This abnormal motion and force of the head is the anchor of the pressure on the muscles and tissues, making it very difficult and painful to move the head days and weeks after an auto accident. Pain in the neck can also be related to a more severe condition of the cervical spine and neck muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues.

How Can Chiropractors Help Whiplash?

Whiplash treatment for joint dysfunction involves spinal manipulation, which gently moves the involved joint into the restricted direction. A neck adjustment helps improve the mobility of the spine by increasing range of motion and enhancing the movement of the neighboring muscles. These adjustments help ease pain, soreness, and stiffness, allowing patients to turn and tilt their heads without pain.

During your first examination, the chiropractor will assess the spinal column and check for any subluxations. This information will help give them an idea of how to approach your treatment. The chiropractor will use gentle spinal adjustment methods to correct any of these misalignments by putting vertebrae back in place. This realignment helps relieve any nerve pressure and boosts the blood flow through the affected area. Our chiropractor can also recommend other therapies to help improve recovery time and reduce any pain or inflammation. These include muscle stimulation, light stretches, and other exercises. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call us at (415) 223-9060 today.