With summer behind us, and the winter rains beginning almost as if on schedule, there will likely be more auto collisions as motorists have to deal with darkened slippery streets.

And one injury we have all come to associate with car accidents is whiplash.

Many of us have heard of the term whiplash, but only people who have been involved in a collision or car accident can really grasp how complex and difficult to diagnose this injury is.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash commonly occurs when one is “rear-ended” in an auto-collision. The weight of one’s head causes the neck to crack, just like the lash of a whip.

Whiplash, technically known as”cervical acceleration-deceleration” (CAD) can cause a large number of injuries, including:

  • Headaches, neck pain and jaw pain
  • Dizziness and fatigue
  • Joint dysfunction
  • Herniated disc
  • Muscle tears

People who have experienced whiplash also report other conditions that are harder for doctors to link to whiplash, including depression, anger and frustration, stress and anxiety, insomnia, and even PTSD.

The complexity of whiplash as an injury, and how much potential this condition has to affect your life, makes choosing the right treatment extremely important.

Whiplash treatments

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects that those disorders have on your overall health. Chiropractic care is often the first choice for treating soft tissues injuries such as whiplash.

Chiropractic care is also a non-intrusive, drug-free method for resolving the neurologic disorders and neck and back pain that accompany whiplash.

Mulligan Technique

The Mulligan Technique can help speed recovery from joint pain caused by injuries sustained in an auto collision. The Mulligan Technique is a manual, “hands on” therapy that focuses on your joints and your spine to help restore and maintain pain-free movement.

Neuromobilization

Neuromobilization or nerve mobilization, is a technique that treats nerve pain from automobile collisions including sciatica and whiplash. Nerve pain can occur when nerves become compressed or irritated, or become adhered to scar tissue. Nerve mobilization helps restore function while reducing nerve pain.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy has developed a reputation for reliably helping tendon and ligament injuries heal more quickly. Shockwave Therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves to non-surgically penetrate soft tissues, targeting damaged areas, stimulating new blood vessel growth and regeneration in bones, tendon and ligaments.

Here’s what Rachel, one of our patients, has to say about how Shockwave Therapy helped her recover from whiplash:

After getting whiplash in December 2007, I tried physio, exercise, active release and chiropractic treatments. They all offered only relief. A specialist told me I would have pain for the rest of my life. At the urging of Dr. Grimes, I agreed to try shockwave therapy. I had my doubts but after only 3 treatments, my neck pain of 22 months was virtually gone! Thanks so much, Synergy.