Whiplash and How Ann Arbor Chiropractors and Ypsilanti Chiropractors Can Help

After a car accident, it is common for someone to experience whiplash. We all know how the traffic in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor can be. A car crash is just around the corner. If you or someone you know has been in a car accident and is experiencing pain as a result of it, give your Ann Arbor chiropractic office and Ypsilanti chiropractic office a call. We would love to help you with your healing process. 

WHIPLASH 

Whiplash is an injury that results from a sudden stop after or during a period of motion or increased motion. When you get in a car accident, your car stops, but your body continues to move forward and then is jolted backwards. Whiplash can happen during car accidents, but it can also happen from falls while rock climbing, sports injuries, and more. Whiplash can happen from the front or the back. 

EXAMS AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

When you come in to see an Ann Arbor chiropractor or Ypsilanti chiropractor after a car accident, they should always give you a complete and thorough evaluation. They should ask you many details about the car accident itself including the directions and speeds of the cars involved. Then the chiropractor should do a full evaluation beginning with your range of motion. If you have a whiplash injury, your range of motion will be decreased and painful. You can expect to have lots of muscle spasming and guarding. Your chiropractor then should do a series of orthopedic tests including muscle strength testing to see if you have a whiplash injury. It is important to let your chiropractor know if you went to the ER after your car accident or if you were able to drive away from the crash. 

CHIROPRACTORS TREAT WHIPLASH

Depending on the severity and time you have had your injuries, your chiropractor will use a range of methods to help you with your whiplash injury. When your whiplash is acute and severe, they might start off with very gentle adjusting, sometimes using instruments. We can also use eclectic stimulation, taping, massage, or other soft tissue methods to decrease pain, swelling, and stiffness. You will slowly get your range of motion back as your spine is aligned overtime and your muscles are stretched. Your chiropractor might suggest ice or heat depending on your symptoms. As your healing process continues, we can move on to manual spinal manipulations to restore range of motion to your neck and help with any joint restrictions. 

Though car accidents can be terrible and scary, Collective Culture Health & Chiropractic would like to help you heal. Even if you don’t feel pain or discomfort initially, it’s always a good idea to seek out chiropractic care. Often getting care sooner rather than later can help you heal faster and experience less pain and stiffness to begin with. Whiplash injuries can feel worse after a few days so even if you don’t have any initial symptoms, they might progress over time. Collective Culture Health & Chiropractic is excited to hear from you and help you on your way to better health.