By Mary Pletsch 04 May 2022 no comment 338 Views

Most people associate whiplash with car accidents.  But you can also get it from a fall or from crashing into something or even from a roller coaster.  Athletes can experience whiplash from “body checks,” “wipe outs” or hard landings.  What does whiplash feel like?

Whiplash occurs when the head is snapped back and forth violently. It can injure you in a number of different ways.

What does whiplash feel like?

Firstly, the motion of your head snapping backwards stretches your muscles farther than they would ordinarily go. This extreme stretch can lead to muscle injuries.  It feels like tenderness or even swelling in the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

Secondly, when your muscles stretch, your nerves stretch too. So, “pinched” nerves and other nerve damage often result from whiplash.

Thirdly, joints in your cervical vertebrae allow you to move your neck. 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.

Finally, discs act as “shock absorbers” in between your vertebrae. Discs are also where your sensitive nerves enter and exit the spinal cord.  Whiplash injuries can damage these discs.

What should you do if you suspect a whiplash injury?

Proper treatment involves treating the cause and not just the symptoms.  Chiropractic training teaches your chiropractor how to  diagnose and treat whiplash injuries.  It doesn’t matter 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, it’s time to give us a call!  If you are experiencing neck pain, joint pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, headaches, or “pins and needles,” we would be honoured to help. You can reach Sheappard Chiropractic Centre at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172.

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