Whiplash is also referred to as neck strain, and it happens when the tendons or muscles of the neck become damaged, often but not always as the result of being struck from behind by a vehicle. It only takes a car moving at 5 mph to cause your neck to be damaged, meaning that even a sporting accident, a mild blow to the head, or anything that overextends the neck muscles can also cause whiplash.
You may wonder what can be done about whiplash. Are there any home remedies that help? And if you suspect you have endured whiplash, where should you begin to find help?
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Steps to Take When You Have Whiplash
- Ice it. This is a good place to begin so as to reduce inflammation and swelling. Wrap the ice pack in a towel and do not apply for longer than 20 minutes at a time. Repeating every 3 – 4 hours for the first 3 – 4 days is recommended.
- Warm it up. Only do this after you have used ice for the first few days. While the ice has worked to reduce swelling, heat will increase blood flow to the area, leading to healing.
- Seek the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. This is one area often overlooked but extremely vital to the health of the neck. The neck must be examined for any misalignments so that they can be taken care of. This will reduce the chance of future complications.
How Upper Cervical Care Helps Whiplash
Whiplash often causes the top bones of the spine to misalign due to the force of the impact and overstretching of the muscles. If the bones of the neck misalign by even ¼ of a millimeter, enough stress is placed on the brainstem to wreak havoc on the entire body. This interferes with communication between the brain and body, leading to problems such as migraines, neck pain, back issues, vertigo, and much more. Here at Body Balance Spinal Care, we offer our patients a gentle method to realign the bones, and this often leads to an overall improvement in health.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.