After experiencing a car accident, you are bound to deal with whiplash, one of the most common injuries. If not that, it could be because of a sports injury. Sometimes, the symptoms of whiplash do not show up until days after. The pain can be so excruciating that the priority becomes finding relief.
What Is Whiplash?
It is the forceful back and forth movement of your cervical spine. It can cause trauma that extends to your muscles, nerves, and ligaments. It can also move the vertebrae out of place. The misalignment affects the overall body functions. It can also cause chronic pain in the body.
Chiropractic Treatments For Whiplash
Chiropractors use different treatments for whiplash. Each treatment is unique to the whiplash injury. During a chiropractic exam, the doctor notes the primary dysfunctions. They then fit the treatment accordingly. The main one is spinal manipulation. It involves gently moving the joint. The doctor does this in the direction where there is a restriction of movement.
Benefits Of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care has many benefits over other whiplash treatments. It is a non-invasive movement that offers relief and restores proper movement. It additionally ensures the restoration of all other body functions.
- Restoring Range of Motion
Whiplash causes stiffness in the cervical spine. It makes it difficult to move your neck. Chiropractic adjustments focusing on your neck help restore movement. It also improves the range of motion and relieves pain.
- Reducing Inflammation
Chiropractic care manipulates and realigns your spine. Your body responds by cutting back on the production of inflammatory cytokines. It lowers the inflammatory response and reduces pain in the soft tissues of the neck.
- Reducing Pain
During spinal manipulations, the body naturally releases pain-relieving hormones. They include oxytocin, cortisol, and neurotensin. These minimize pain in the body, even headaches. It improves your health and overall quality of life.
- Speeding Up Recovery
Effects of injuries after an accident can last for weeks and even months. Starting chiropractic adjustments soon after the accident will help reduce the risk of serious complications. It releases blood flow, allowing for oxygen and nutrients to move without restriction in the body. The flow helps speed up recovery and renews your energy.
- Improving Muscle Tone
After an injury, you may lose the muscle tone in your neck. It also affects the strength of your neck. This loss of muscle tone and strength makes it difficult to go about your day-to-day activities. Chiropractic adjustments realign the muscles and spine. It strengthens the structure and improves muscle tone, keeping you strong and healthy.
- Boosting Overall Wellness
Chiropractic care not only works on the health of your spine but also offers benefits for your overall wellness. Spinal adjustments improve the flow of blood and hence oxygen and nutrients. It energizes you and increases your mental clarity. With good physical and mental health, you can do much more work. You can also achieve much more in your day-to-day activities.
Remember that whiplash injury does not always show symptoms immediately after an accident. Therefore, it is important to get chiropractic care immediately. It will help ensure complications do not arise.
For more on chiropractic care for whiplash, visit Oropeza Chiropractic Wellness Center at our office in Key West, Florida. You can call (305) 294-1036 today to schedule an appointment.