Whiplash

If you have whiplash pain, your chiropractor in Olathe, KS can help.
Studies have shown that whiplash can occur in rear-end collisions at speeds as low as 5-10 mph

Common Causes of Whiplash Pain

• Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash. To reduce the risk of whiplash in a car accident, you can try to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and avoid slamming on the brakes. You can also make sure your seat belt is adjusted properly to fit snugly across your shoulder. 
• Sports: Contact sports like football, hockey, and rugby can cause whiplash, especially if you receive a sudden blow to the head. 
• Falls: A slip or fall can cause whiplash if your head is suddenly jolted backwards. 
• Other traumas: Whiplash can also be caused by physical abuse or cycling accidents.

Symptoms of Whiplash Pain

• Neck pain: Pain, stiffness, swelling, or tenderness in the neck 
• Headaches: Often at the base of the skull 
• Dizziness: Can be caused by neck instability or mild traumatic brain injury 
• Blurred vision: A less common symptom 
• Pain in other areas: Pain in the shoulders, arms, hands, or low back 
• Other symptoms: Numbness, pins and needles, muscle spasms, weakness, difficulty moving the neck, difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleeplessness, tiredness, tinnitus, or unusual sensations in the face
• Symptoms usually appear within 24 hours of the injury, but can sometimes develop after a few days. They usually improve within a few days to weeks, but it can take months for them to completely go away. Some people may have persistent problems, with an estimated 12–40% of people experiencing them.

Treatment and at Home Remedies

• Heat or ice: Apply ice to your whiplash for the first 48–72 hours to reduce inflammation, then switch to heat. You can use an ice pack or ice wrapped in a towel, or apply heat with a heating pad, warm compress, or warm shower. 
• Exercises: Once the worst of the pain has passed, you can try gentle stretches
• Posture: Try to maintain good posture when sitting or walking. You can adjust your desk furniture so your computer is level with your eyes, and use headphones or a speakerphone instead of holding your phone between your ears and shoulder. You can also take frequent breaks to get up and move around.  
• Our Cervical Pillow sold at the office
• Chiropractic Adjustment: this will increase cervical range of motion and decrease inflammation of your whiplash
• Decompression Therapy: this will improve nerve compression and joint health of your whiplash
• Hydromassage: 10 minutes will improve your muscle soreness from whiplash
• Our Desensitize program, which you can read here an start today at home

Schedule an appointment and find out how Woodroof Chiropractic can help your whiplash pain.