Whiplash injury in Virginia Beach

If you’ve recently been in a car accident, you might have sustained whiplash injuries and not even realize it. Whiplash occurs when the head is whipped violently back and forth, which damages the soft tissues in the neck and upper spine.

After you have experienced a car accident, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. The symptoms from whiplash don’t often present themselves until several days later.

Visiting the ChiroSolutions Center for your whiplash symptoms in Virginia Beach, VA, could help lessen the pain and trauma you suffer significantly.

What is whiplash?

Car accidents (particularly getting rear-ended) are the primary cause of whiplash, but you can also be injured by sporting activities, amusement park rides, assault, and more.

Any time you’re participating in a high-velocity, high-impact situation, the potential for whiplash is there.

When your neck is whipped back and forth at a high speed, you can suffer muscle sprains and torn ligaments.

Whiplash symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, a decreased range of motion, and a severe headache.

You might also experience tingling “pins and needles” in your neck, back, and arms, or notice weakness or numbness in the upper parts of your body.

It usually takes about three months to recover from a whiplash injury, but if there are complications or additional risk factors (such as previous neck and spine trauma or old age), recovery can take much longer.

Chiropractic treatment for whiplash

After you consult with medical professionals, you should focus on getting rest. You might be able to relieve pain by applying ice to the affected area to reduce swelling, followed by applying heat to promote healing.

Once your doctor is sure you don’t have more serious injuries, consider seeing a chiropractor to aid your healing.

Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be effective in treating whiplash.

To treat whiplash, your Virginia Beach chiropractor will first determine which joints are most affected, either through a physical exam, x-rays, or both.

They might then use a variety of techniques to potentially realign your spine and ensure your neck tissues and ligaments are free of tension and in their right positions.

Manual manipulation is a gentle way of physically moving your muscles and joints back into place.

This is the kind of adjustment that creates the “popping” or “cracking” noise you likely associate with chiropractic care.

These noises are called cavitation and are caused by gases escaping from the joints. Cavitation should be pain free and is completely safe, often providing fast relief.

Your chiropractor may suggest other techniques, as well, such as targeted stretching and strengthening exercises to potentially restore functionality.

They will also make recommendations for simple lifestyle changes that you can implement, which may aid in healing.

This can be anything from using a special cervical pillow at night to making adjustments at your desk to support good posture.

At the ChiroSolutions Center in Virginia Beach, VA, we practice Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) to create a holistic healing plan based on your individual needs.

As soon as you suspect you may have suffered a whiplash injury, make sure you see a medical professional, then call us for additional treatment and support.

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques.

CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease.

As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.