Can Gloucester Chiropractors help whiplash?
Whiplash injuries are common, with thousands of patients every year experiencing neck pain and discomfort that can limit daily activities. While many patients will make a full recovery, 50% still experience the symptoms of whiplash, including pain, discomfort and restricted neck movement a year after the initial injury, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Many patients take matters into their own hands and work with a chiropractor to help manage their symptoms and accelerate their recovery. Chiropractic treatment is seen as an increasingly important and effective part of an integrated approach to recovery and pain management.
Learn how Gloucester chiropractors can treat whiplash and help you to regain movement, flexibility and freedom after a neck injury.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden movement or a jolt to the head. While most people consider whiplash to be the result of road traffic accidents, it can be caused by a slip, trip or fall, or during sporting activity or exercise.
In fact, anything that jolts the neck can cause whiplash.
Whiplash is caused as the neck moves backwards and forward in a rapid movement, like the cracking of the whip. Healthcare professionals describe whiplash as being caused by sudden or excessive hyperextension, hyperflexion, or rotation of the neck.
Whiplash injuries are common, with 51% of all involved in a road traffic collision reporting whiplash-associated symptoms. That’s hundreds of thousands of patients every year.
Whiplash can cause intense pain and dramatically reduce movement and mobility, which can severely affect a person’s quality of life.
What are the symptoms of whiplash injuries?
The signs and symptoms and whiplash can take hours after the initial impact to appear. When they do occur, the most common symptoms of whiplash include:
People with whiplash and other whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) may experience a range of other symptoms, including:
• A reduced range of neck movements
• Muscular spasms
• Stiffness
• Deafness.
• Affected hearing (tinnitus)
• Nausea
• Fatigue and dizziness
• Memory loss
• Joint pain
The symptoms of whiplash will differ among patients, and their severity and duration will depend on the cause of the injury and the health of the person.
Can whiplash be treated?
The pain of whiplash can have a dramatic impact upon a person’s quality of life, restricting everyday activities such as driving and exercise. Those with long-term whiplash can find it challenging to live a normal life.
All whiplash injuries are unique and require different combinations of treatment. Patients are encouraged to use over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen to alleviate pain.
Chiropractic treatment is part of a holistic approach to treating whiplash and associated neck injuries. Chiropractors are trained experts who can treat various nerve, muscle and joint conditions, including whiplash.
Can Gloucester Chiropractors help my whiplash injury?
At Gloucester chiropractors, we have extensive experience in successfully treating whiplash injuries and offer a range of treatments and therapies designed to help you recover movement, mobility and freedom.
During your treatment, you will work with one of our experienced chiropractors, who will oversee your recovery. They will work hand in hand with you to help you recover as much movement as possible.
If you have experienced a whiplash injury, your treatment will begin with an initial assessment where your Gloucester chiropractor will listen to you and learn about the causes of your injury.
This will include discussing your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms, followed by a neurological examination. If required, we can order images to help inform our diagnosis (however, most of the time, images are unnecessary).
Your chiropractor will then decide upon a specific, targeted programme of treatment and recovery personalised to you. The techniques they use will help restore normal range of motion and alleviate muscle spasm.
Your recovery is a long-term process and continues after you’ve left the practice. Your whiplash chiropractor will also provide advice on exercises you can perform yourself. They will make recommendations of lifestyle changes and ergonomic improvements you can make to accelerate your improvement.
How many sessions will I need?
The length of your treatment depends on several factors, including the cause and severity of your whiplash injuries.
Your chiropractor will provide an estimate which they will review at each appointment.
At Gloucester Chiropractors, we focus on restoring movement and your recovery. We will provide feedback on progress during every session. The upper limit for most courses of treatment is 12 sessions, although many patients require fewer.
Does chiropractic treatment help?
The methods we use are tried and tested and have helped patients across the world to recover from whiplash and whiplash-associated injuries.
Even in patients with chronic whiplash (and associated disorders), chiropractic care can improve symptoms in more than 90% of cases.
You can read a selection of testimonials from previous patients here.
When should I call Gloucester Chiropractors?
Chiropractors are primary care practitioners and so patients do not need to seek an opinion or diagnosis of whiplash before attending.
In cases of severe trauma, sudden inability to move the neck or symptoms of neurological damage or impairment, you should seek emergency treatment. In all other cases, a chiropractor is an appropriate first contact.
We recommend contacting Gloucester chiropractors as quickly as possible. Early mobilisation and a targeted treatment plan and exercise are the most effective strategies for alleviating WAD symptoms. The sooner we can work with you, the less likely your symptoms are to progress and worsen.
Book an appointment with a Gloucester chiropractor today
If you are experiencing pain and discomfort from a whiplash injury, contact us today.
You can make an appointment by completing our online form or giving us a call on 07716 489363 to speak to one of our trained chiropractors.
