Many patients who experience neck pain after a sports injury or car accident suffer from the effects of whiplash. The condition is often mistreated or ignored, making it essential to understand its causes and symptoms. Below is a quick guide about how to recognize this kind of trauma and when to seek care from a chiropractor. 

What Is Whiplash? 

Whiplash is a neck injury that commonly happens during rear-impact automobile crashes. The condition may also result from a collision during a high-velocity contact sport like football or hockey. As sudden force is applied to the body, the head and neck move rapidly and unrestrained.

A back and forward, or whipping motion, occurs. The powerful jerking movement causes pain and symptoms such as stiffness, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and arm weakness. Whiplash may also cause blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and difficulty concentrating. Muscle tears and inflammation result in pain, tenderness, and tightness.

How Is It Treated? 

Chiropractors effectively care for neck pain and other effects of whiplash through a variety of safe and natural methods. These include chiropractic adjustments, as well as physical, massage, and ultrasound therapies along with patient education. All strategies are designed to restore range of motion, relieve discomfort, and improve symptoms like tingling and numbness in the limbs.

To learn more about the treatment combination that is right for you, talk to your chiropractic care professional. They will ask you about the trauma and examine your neck and back. Once they evaluate the extent of your injury, they will create a customized treatment plan. 

Whether you were in a rear-end collision or suffered another type of trauma, Gateway Chiropractic Center in Crossville, TN, will relieve your whiplash symptoms. Serving the community since 1984, they stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and equipment to effectively address your issue. To make an appointment with a chiropractor to treat your neck pain, call their office at (931) 484-3135. Meet Dr. Ellis and his team by visiting their website. You can also receive regular updates and tips by following them on Facebook.