Rear-end collisions are the most common type of motor vehicle crashes in Texas and across the nation, with 29.7% of all accidents caused in this way. Whiplash is a frequent complaint for those involved in auto accidents. Even when the car that rear-ends your vehicle has been traveling at less than 5 miles per hour, your body can still be injured. Low speed rear-impact studies have shown that 29% of people experienced whiplash symptoms at speeds of 2.5 miles per hour.
Treatment often involves chiropractors, who have experience working gently with the body to help people’s backs and necks heal. They are able to diagnose and treat the many injuries that are associated with a whiplash injury.
How Does Whiplash Occur?
Whiplash is caused when your neck is jolted violently backward and forward from the crash impact. Neck and upper back muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues all strained and stretched beyond their normal limits. This in turn causes stiffness and neck pain, and even neck sprain-strains, all of which limit your neck mobility.
After a whiplash rear-end motor vehicle accident, some people commonly believe they are just fine. However, symptoms of whiplash often may not be noticed hours or even days after a crash. Nobody really knows why this is so. It could be that the body is in shock directly after the accident, thus preventing the person from feeling the pain initially.
Whiplash Symptoms
In addition to neck pain and stiffness, other whiplash symptoms include:
- Headaches, especially at the skull’s base or on one or both sides of the head
- Decreased ability to turn the head
- Shoulder, arm or back pain
- Odd sensations, including tingling in arms, numbness or burning
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Pain in the jaw
- Excess fatigue, overly irritable or problems concentrating
In most cases, these symptoms will resolve fairly rapidly. However, there are situations when symptoms do not go away for months, or even years. Obtaining a consultation with a chiropractor can help you understand your options for appropriate treatment. Treatment may include, but not limited to: Chiropractic adjustments, passive physical therapy, active rehabilitation, massage and home exercise/care programs. We also use many imaging modalities including: X-Ray, CT Scan and MRI, which gives us the ability to diagnose the extent of your injury. Treatment may generally be covered by the insurance.
Get pain relief now. Contact a Chiropractic Clinic near you today!
