Symptoms of whiplash are:
Pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder and lower back.
Headaches in the back of the head.
Pain and/or tingling in the arm.
Lightheadedness.
Ringing in the ears.
Blurred vision.
There may be cognitive troubles such as lack of concentration and memory loss.
Psychological issues; sleep problems, depression and irritation.
Whiplash is an extremely common injury that can impact anyone. There have actually been cases of whiplash in people driving at 5 miles per hour. When the body is struck from behind, the head bobs back and forth, triggering a whiplash.
In extreme motor car accidents, whiplash can damage the spinal cord, resulting in neurological disorder or paralysis below the level of the injury.
An X-ray is usually done to see if there is damage to the vertebral column, or an MRI to pick up any soft tissue injury. Putting on a soft cervical collar is recommended to alleviate pain and prevent additional injury, however this need to just be worn for 2 to three weeks. Some cases of whiplash do not require extensive medical treatment.
We will use ultrasound or electrical stimulation to relieve pain and get you started on range-of-motion and enhancing exercises. We will also monitor functional activities to ensure that you perform these safely and return to your normal activity levels.