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Whiplash is a painful neck condition that often occurs because of rear-end car accidents. Specialized treatment can help alleviate whiplash side effects and help you regain comfort and mobility. Visiting a physical therapist is important if you’re experiencing symptoms, but there are also preventative steps to minimize your risk of whiplash.

3 Tips on Preventing Whiplash

1. Position Your Head Restraint Correctly

Head restraints are essential safety features in motor vehicles that are often forgotten. Position your head restraint properly to ensure you’ll be getting the most support by adjusting the it to the proper height, making it even with the top of the head. Head restraints should also be kept close to the head offers the greatest amount of support in the event of an accident.

2. Choose a Newer Vehicle

The quality of the safety feature can also play a role as newer vehicles often feature improved head restraints. If you’re unsure whether the vehicle you want has quality head restraints, check with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS rates safety features and provides a list of their vehicle safety top picks.  

3. Strengthen Neck Muscles

whiplashNeck exercises help strengthen muscles to reduce the risk of neck strain. For a helpful neck stretch, keep your body straight, push your chin forward, and hold that position for five seconds. Reverse the position and hold for the same amount of time, repeating the maneuver five times. You can also perform a neck tilt by touching your chin to your chest, holding for five seconds, and returning to the original position. Head tilts can also be performed from side to side, by moving your ear to toward your shoulder. 

 

If you suffer from whiplash in Hawaii, StayFIT Physical Therapy is here to help. Along with treatments to reduce pain and discomfort, their physical therapy specialists will help you create a healthy lifestyle to prevent injuries and illness from occurring. Whether you’re suffering from a sports injury or are experiencing symptoms related to a sedentary lifestyle, their knowledgeable experts will help you through exercises to get you back on your feet.  With two convenient locations, call (808) 487-0487 to reach the Aiea office, or (808) 674-0500 to speak to a team member in Kapolei. You can also visit them online to see the complete listing of services.

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