Whiplash Causing a Pain in Your Neck?
Whiplash is an injury typically associated with a car accident, because it requires a sudden force, but this could just as easily happen in sports. The physiology of whiplash is easiest to understand visualizing someone being rear ended. As someone is sitting at a stop light, a car comes from behind and pushes the car forward.
The body is supported by the seat, and the head is hopefully supported by the head rest. For this example, let’s assume the headrest is missing to make the visual easier. The body is pushed forward, it’s fixed to the seat, seat belt attached. The head is floating without support, so when the car hits from behind, the head will arch back into extension, building up tension in the front of the neck. The tension builds enough to then overcome the force pushing the head back, and it will sling forward violently. The head will go from an extreme extended position, to an extreme flexion position.
This typically results in mostly musculoskeletal issues, as the muscles tense up to attempt to blunt the force of motion. With enough force, nerves can be stretched, and with even more force the joints can be impacted.
Physical Therapy for whiplash can be very difficult, as all of the muscles of the head, neck, and upper back are generally impacted. All supportive structures of the head are now in severe tension, the instinctual response from the body is to brace and hold to allow things to heal. Neck supports soft or firm, can be issued to help take some load off the muscles in the acute stage after whiplash.
Whiplash is tightly associated with car accidents, which brings about trauma and stress. Stress of financial loss due to being out of work or loss of a vehicle, as well as having to deal with insurance. The traumatic piece of the injury can leave those with PTSD, and relax anxiety about getting back on the road, especially if the accident happened during the normal work commute. Stress and emotion are tightly associated with neck tension in general, which can be severely compounded due to the area of impact.
Given these circumstances, it can be read as something insurmountable, but the treatment fits perfectly in the wheelhouse of an Orthopedic Physical Therapist. Seeking a specialized physical therapist for Orthopedic specialties, as well as those with chronic pain experience can be most helpful. Having a Physical Therapist that not only knows the physiological progression, and corrective techniques to alleviate pain and restore function. Combine this expert level knowledge and treatment with the awareness of the psychological impact of trauma typically associated with those who have chronic pain, and now the Physical Therapist is properly equipped to tackle the most difficult whiplash injuries.
The typical course of treatment may include several methods, of which are going to be tailored to the level of impact the aforementioned variables are present. The best first course of treatment is seeking out a specialized Orthopedic Physical Therapist.
Click here to find out more information about physical therapy for whiplash
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Brooklyn’s Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics- There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
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