What Is Whiplash?
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
Neck strain or sprain is another name for whiplash. This is a typical kind of neck injury when your neck suddenly jolts forward or backward. Whiplash, which may occur as a result of an injury or car accident, may strain the muscles and harm the neck's soft tissues. Depending on which neck tissues are hurt and how severely they are affected, such as nerves and ligaments, it may produce modest to severe symptoms.
A sudden, severe jolt causes both whiplash and concussion problems. These injuries, however, vary in numerous ways. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck, such as muscles or ligaments. Concussions are a form of injuries that happens to the brain.
How you feel may be determined by the specifics of the injury, such as the kind of tissues involved and the severity of the damage.
You may have a dull, agonizing pain in the neck's front or back after a whiplash injury. Many people with whiplash may have a tight neck, making it hard to turn their heads side to side.
It's important to remember that the speed of a vehicle at the moment of collision, for example, has no effect on the severity of the symptoms. Even if the automobiles meet at a modest speed, you might suffer a major injury.
Consulting a chiropractor may help overcome the pain. The chiropractor may suggest some rest and physical therapy that may aid in relieving the pain.
Causes
Whiplash is typically called by a jarring of the body. Motor vehicle accidents often cause whiplash injuries. A whiplash injury may also occur if the head jolts or lurches forward or backward in a quick forward or backward movement.
Whiplash may be caused by a severe fall or a sports injury. Physical blows, such as being struck or severely shaken, may also be harmful.
Symptoms
Whiplash has a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms may appear immediately after an injury or days afterward. Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is a term used by healthcare experts to describe the wide range of possible whiplash symptoms.
Some of the whiplash symptoms include back pain, shoulder pain, and stiff neck. A person with whiplash may also suffer from muscle spasms, fatigue, headaches, and anxiety symptoms.
Treatment
After a whiplash injury, a chiropractor suggests proper neck rest to keep the neck from shifting. Shortly after a whiplash injury, they may also suggest stretching or moving the stiff neck muscles. The following day, you may begin making modest neck motions. If you follow the chiropractor's advice, you may prevent additional neck injury.
After a whiplash injury, most people begin to feel better within a couple of days. Most people are back to normal within a couple of weeks. Others may have pain or symptoms that last for months or years.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in College Station, Tex.