Whiplash is characterized as a neck injury in which the neck is violently jerked, like a cracking whip. Whiplash affects the neck, but can also affect the head, back, and even arms. It is important to properly diagnose whiplash and receive a custom treatment plan to improve this condition as it can affect the physical and mental state of a person for years after the injury occurs.
What is the cause?
Whiplash can affect many different types of tissue in and surrounding the neck, including muscles, nerves, bones, and ligaments. When the head is thrashed violently, the lower neck is often hyperextended past its normal position, and the upper neck and head are then hyperflexed back to an abnormal degree, causing damage to the tissue in the neck. Whiplash is often seen as a result of a sports injury, an automobile accident, or other physically traumatic events that abruptly force the head and neck into a jerky movement.
What are the symptoms?
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Shoulder and back pain and stiffness
- Numbness in arms
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears
- Blurry vision
Our staff is well trained to correctly diagnose and treat whiplash. Read more below about the advanced Physiotherapy Techniques we utilize.
Tests
We can order imaging tests to properly assess what is causing the symptoms.
- X-rays
X-rays show us if there is internal damage in the neck area that can be treated. - MRI
An MRI can show how much damage and to what degree the knee has been affected.
Treatments
Treatment in our office is broken down into three segments:
- Pain reduction
Stopping or decreasing the activity that is causing the pain is the main goal of our first treatment segment. Applying ice and heat alternatively throughout the day will help with both pain and inflammation. Our Class 4 laser treatment is very effective for this segment. - Treatment to restore oxygen and proper nutrients to damaged segment
- Class 4 laser
- Graston Technique Therapy
Successful in effectively treating all soft tissue conditions, whether they are chronic, acute or post- surgical. - E-stim
Electric muscle stimulation using a device that delivers electronic pulses to motor nerves through electrodes placed on the skin, causing a motor response to achieve a number of desired results. - Cold laser
- Ultrasound
- Soft tissue work
- Exercise and proper stretching
We offer a very effective Physiotherapy regiment to both decrease pain and restore proper function.