How a Chiropractor Can Help Treat Whiplash

Whiplash is a common injury to the neck resulting from sudden, extreme force to the head or torso. If you are struggling with whiplash, you know it can become debilitating. Not only does it cause pain in your muscles and joints, but it can also lead to headaches and dizziness if not treated properly and promptly. A chiropractor can treat whiplash because they are trained to examine and adjust the spinal column. This article will review the different whiplash treatments our chiropractors can provide.

Treatments for Whiplash

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation is a gentle, hands-on technique that helps restore normal motion to the spine. The chiropractor uses this technique to treat neck pain, back pain, headaches, and other conditions such as arthritis. 

Spinal manipulation involves the chiropractor using their hands to apply pressure on specific joints along the spine without the assistance of a device in order to realign or move them into their proper position. This technique helps reduce muscle tension in those areas and improve circulation so they can heal faster than they would otherwise have done if left untreated. 

Interferential Electrical Stimulation

Interferential electrical stimulation is a form of electrotherapy which uses electric current to use muscle spasms and pain. The chiropractor often uses it to treat back pain, but they can also use it to reduce pain associated with whiplash injuries.

Interferential electrical stimulation works by stimulating nerves through electric currents at different frequencies (or frequencies with certain ranges). These currents cause the muscles in the back to relax, helping relieve tension and stiffness so the patient can feel better overall.

Soft Tissue Therapies

The chiropractor may also employ soft tissue therapies such as manual therapy, muscle energy technique, and myofascial release. These techniques can help with one’s range of motion, reduce muscle tension and pain, and restore proper functioning in the joints affected by whiplash. 

Manual therapy typically involves the chiropractor using only their thumbs or fingertips to apply slight pressure to the injured area. This is usually reserved for patients with slight to moderate whiplash cases. The muscle energy technique, on the other hand, uses muscle contractions to lengthen muscle fibers in the injured area where there is poor joint control.

Myofascial release is the more common soft tissue therapy a chiropractor will use to treat whiplash. It involves applying gentle pressure to specific points along the fascia– the network of connective tissue surrounding and supporting the muscles, bones, and organs. The pressure helps release any tightness or adhesions that have formed within the body, allowing for a better range of motion and improved circulation.

Get relief today

The above techniques are some of the many ways our chiropractor can help treat whiplash. If you think you might be suffering from this injury, contact our Ooltewah office today. Our team will schedule an appointment so that you may begin the journey of healing from this painful condition.

Request an appointment here: https://spine-chiropractic.com or call Spine Chiropractic at (423) 910-2302 for an appointment in our Ooltewah office.

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