If you are unfourtunate to be injured in a car accident, you may experience a strain of your neck muscles and the surrounding soft tissue. This feeling is a condition called whiplash and it can limit your neck movement severely and hinder the rest of your daily activities.
When your vehicle is hit from any direction, the force can cause a sharp movement to your head and neck. It’s important to not ignore whiplash type injuries and to see your Edina chiropractor as soon as possible. Diligent and effective treatment is the best approach if you have a whiplash injury.
WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS
Symptoms can be felt instantly, or take days or weeks to show up. They can be the following:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Loss of mobility in the neck and/or shoulders
- Upper back pain
Whiplash is the common term used to describe any neck injuries sustained from sudden impact. Your head is thrown to the side or backwardsin a violent force, and the vertebrae, discs, muscles, and ligaments can all be damaged, causing injury.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR HEADREST
The U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and consumer reports have seen great improvements in the efficacy of headrests to prevent whiplash-related injuries in a motor vehicle accident, however, the IIHS also rated nearly half of all headrests as poor for cars on the road before 2006. To increase your chances of not getting whiplash, follow these rules:
- Your headrest should reach at least as high as the top of your ears
- Your headrest should be no more than four inches (10 cms) from the back of your head
OTHER CAUSES OF WHIPLASH
It’s not just car accidents that can cause the nasty effects of whiplash. Falling down stairs, being aggressively tackled playing sports, or being body-checked hard into the boards in hockey could also leave you with a case of whiplash. Not all injuries are the same. Some whiplash injuries can be serious others are not and can heal fully with proper care.
A HEALTHY NECK IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE
Chiropractors are first and foremost primary caregivers who specialize in spinal health. Your neck muscles, tendons, and bones fall under your Edina chiropractor’s area of expertise. Trust your chiropractor and talk about your care with them. Many people suffering from whiplash can heal quickly and be back to their daily routines in no time. Follow your chiropractor’s recommendations and treatments and it’s likely you’ll have a stronger neck and better posture that will enable you to withstand injury and bounce back quicker if you ever become injured again.
Feel free to contact our team at Zen Chiropractic with any questions you have.