Whiplash occurs when the head is snapped back and forth violently. There are four major types of whiplash injury.  How many did you know?

Muscle Injury

The motion of your head snapping backwards stretches your muscles farther than they would ordinarily go. This extreme stretch can lead to tenderness or even swelling in the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

Nerve Injury

When your muscles stretch, your nerves stretch too. “Pinched” nerves and other nerve damage is more likely to occur if your head was turned during the impact.  It can also occur if your headrest was improperly positioned, of poor quality, or absent.

Joint Injury

Joints in your cervical vertebrae allow you to move your neck. These joints allow the bones to move smoothly over one another.  Injury to these joints can cause stiffness and pain.  The pain may be in the area of the affected joint, but it can also transfer into other areas of the body such as the shoulders and arms.

Disc Injury

Discs act as “shock absorbers” in between your vertebrae. They also prevent the vertebrae from rubbing one another and causing wear.  Discs are also where your sensitive nerves enter and exit the spinal cord.  Whiplash injuries can damage these discs.  They can bulge, herniate or even rupture.  Without the protection of a healthy disc, painful nerve irritation can follow.

What should you do if you suspect a whiplash injury? Proper treatment involves treating the cause and not just the symptoms.  Your chiropractor is trained to diagnose and treat your problems, whether they are new or the results of an injury you sustained weeks, months, or even years ago.  Chiropractic care can provide pain relief and increased mobility and flexibility.  It can also help your body recover more quickly from your injury.

If you think you have a whiplash injury, or if you’re experiencing neck pain, joint pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, headaches, or “pins and needles,” give Sheppard Chiropractic and Laser Healing a call. You can reach us at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172.