Whiplash is a common result from car accidents that can damage the intervertebral discs of the upper spine. Dr. Jason Miller believes that chiropractic treatment is a great choice for Attleboro patients who have recently suffered a whiplash injury. Whiplash typically occurs from an automobile collision either on the front-end or rear-end of the vehicle.
The force from the vehicle being hit can cause patients neck muscles, ligaments and tendons to twist and turn with a surprising, unnatural force. The tissues in the neck that are stretched past their regular limits can cause them to be come torn, or even permanently damaged. The vertebral discs in the cervical spine can also bulge, tear, or rupture.
After an accident, a patient may experience a lot of stress from understanding what happened, but seeing Dr. Miller for a chiropractic examination might be just what the patient needs. Neck pain is the single most common complaint reported by patients who have experienced whiplash trauma. Often the pain radiates across the shoulders, up into the head, and down between the shoulder blades.
Whiplash injuries tend to affect all of the tissues in the neck, including the facet joints and discs between the vertebrae, as well as all of the muscles, ligaments and nerves. Some possible treatments for whiplash include: muscle relaxation or stimulation with gentle muscle stretches and/or finger pressure on precise sensory trigger points, heat therapy, ice therapy, spinal manipulation, and using range of motion as well as other therapeutic exercises that test stability and integrity of the patients neck muscles. It also helps to correct unnatural movement patterns in the neck, as well as other areas.
Most patients who suffer from whiplash heal in a matter of two to six weeks. That is if the patient correctly follows the treatment from the chiropractor. Patients can expect a few weeks of prescribed stretches and exercises to ensure the best long-term benefits. For more information on understanding whiplash and treating whiplash, call Miller Chiropractic at 508-226-2333.