Whiplash is a common injury of the neck, often resulting from a sudden acceleration-deceleration force. The force leads to a sudden, unrestrained, fast-forward-and-backward movement of the head and neck, which is not normal for this part of the body. Whiplash usually occurs after motor vehicle accidents and damages the bone structures, soft tissues, and nerves, which could eventually lead to a severe and chronic condition. If you or your loved one sustain a whiplash injury, the services of a licensed Las Vegas chiropractor are quite important.Chiropractic care after a car accident.
It is important to note that every whiplash injury case is different, making it impractical to have a general standard of chiropractic treatment. Therefore, each chiropractic treatment is unique and delivered based on the basic dysfunctions detected upon examination.
However, a qualified car accident chiropractor can apply various chiropractic remedies for a whiplash injury. Such treatments include:
- Manipulation
- Muscle relaxation and/or stimulation
- Various exercises
- Ergonomic and lifestyle changes
This article provides more information on these treatments and explains why after-accident chiropractic care is important.
Manipulation
For joint dysfunction, especially in the spinal area, spinal manipulation is the basic treatment. While offering this treatment, a qualified accident chiropractor gently moves the affected joint into its restricted direction. Sometimes referred to as chiropractic adjustment, this treatment may require the application of a light thrust into the right direction. In many cases, the chiropractor uses a slow mobilizing movement instead of a thrust.
Muscle relaxation or stimulation
Muscle relaxation is applicable in a whiplash situation where the injury is related to muscle dysfunction. In that situation, the specialist offers muscle relaxation, stimulation, or both. This treatment involves gentle stretches to the affected muscle, especially where massive tension occurred, repeated contractions on an inhibited muscle, or both.For very tight muscles, the chiropractor applies a more vigorous stretch using gentle finger pressure technique.
McKenzie exercises
Accident chiropractic care for whiplash injury patients might involve various types of exercises including stabilization, McKenzie exercises, Sensorimotor exercises, or a combination of the same. McKenzie exercises are specifically meant to reduce disc derangement that occurs after a whiplash injury. The treatment involves simple movements that the patient can initially do in the office and graduate to self-care at home. McKenzie exercises are helpful in putting the patient in his or her way to recovery.
Stabilization
Both stabilization and sensorimotor exercises are mainly to correct movement patterns, especially in routine activities and everyday life. In the process, the specialist trains the nervous system to control and coordinate the movement patterns. This eventually improves the stability of the neck muscles. The exercises are helpful in dealing with a major trauma such as whiplash injury.
Ergonomic and lifestyle changes
As noted earlier in this article, each treatment is unique to the type of injury involved. Ergonomic and lifestyle changes have to do with stress improvement while performing everyday activities with the least strain to the body.The factors to address here might have to do with the type of work, recreational, or home activities that the affected person might engage in, to avoid perpetuating the problems that arise from a whiplash injury.
From a certified Southern Nevada chiropractic clinic, patients can learn how to adopt stress reduction methods to alleviate whiplash conditions.