Whiplash occurs when the head is snapped back and forth violently, causing damage to muscles, joints, discs, and nerves.

Many people associate whiplash with car accidents.  That’s because in a car accident, your seat belt restrains your body, but your head keeps moving.  Your muscles stretch farther than they would ordinarily go, before “snapping” your head back.

But car accidents aren’t the only way to get a whiplash injury.

Whiplash injuries are far more common than most people think.

You can get whiplash playing sports.  For example, a body-check during hockey, a “wipe-out” fall from your roller blades, skis,  skateboard, or toboggan, or tripping while running.

You can get whiplash from a fall around the house:  a tumble off your deck, tripping on stairs, sliding on the ice, a fall off a ladder or stool, or even a hard stumble.

You can get whiplash from sudden, fast stops in vehicles other than cars:  bicycles, skateboards, kayaks, snowmobiles….the list goes on.

The worst part is that symptoms might not show up for days, weeks or even months.  By the time you’re suffering with neck pain, headaches, decreased range of motion, dizziness, back pain, fatigue, shoulder aches and stiffness, you might not associate your symptoms with that “long-ago” mishap.

The good news is that chiropractic care can help.

If you feel any of the above symptoms, it’s time to call Sheppard Chiropractic Centre at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172 to schedule an appointment.

Be proactive.  When you have a fall, or if you’ve been in a car accident, don’t wait.  Call us right away and we can begin treatment without waiting for the symptoms to manifest.

Regular maintenance treatment will help to keep your spine in alignment and ward off the “wear and tear” of an active lifestyle.