Whiplash
Commonly associated with car crashes, whiplash is an injury to the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues in the neck. It occurs when there has been sudden and vigorous movement of the head forward, sideways or backwards. Find out more about its causes, symptoms and treatment below.
Causes
The most common causes of whiplash are the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Sudden blows to your head from contact sports such as rugby or boxing
- A slip or fall where your head is jolted or jarred
- Being hit on your head by a heavy object
Treatment
The following treatments are available for whiplash:
- Physiotherapy (including massage, joint mobilisation, exercise, postural correction & taping)
- Avoidance of provocative activity
- Pain or anti-inflammatory medications
- Heat applied to injured area
Symptoms
Please note that every patient is different so symptoms can vary. You may experience a combination of the following or just one:
- Pain & discomfort appearing 6 to 12 hours after incident
- Swelling & bruising (increases over the following days)
- Stiffness
- Dizziness
- Loss of range of motion in your neck
- Soreness with neck movement
- Tingling or numbness in your arms
- Headaches that often start at the base of your skull
- Tenderness or pain in your shoulder, upper back or arms
Please Note – The severity of a whiplash injury can vary, so best to visit a doctor for a thorough diagnosis straight away.
Recovery Time
Depending on your overall health and age, whiplash can disappear in a few days or a few months. Some patients can experience pain and stiffness for years.
If you or your loved one has experienced whiplash, trust our highly experienced physiotherapists to create a treatment plan to help reduce its effects and help you get back to a fully functional state. Contact our friendly team today.
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