Did you experience a whiplash recently? It could be a scary condition, but easy to treat. It is caused by a rapid back and forth movement of the neck when your body is suddenly forced to stop. As your head whips forward without control, your neck and spine are injured. Whiplash usually results from car collisions or high-impact sports such as skiing, snowboarding, boxing, football, etc.

Common Symptoms of Whiplash

Symptoms of whiplash are noticeable in a few hours or days after the trauma. It can include:

• Neck pain
• Radiating pain in both arms
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Loss of range of motion of the neck

Recovery Tips for Whiplash

Neck pain is common after whiplash. Some people don’t experience it for several weeks. A later onset of symptoms indicates a severe injury. Regardless of when the pain starts, don’t ignore it. Here are four recovery tips for whiplash:

Ice or Heat – Ice will help relieve swelling while heat can soothe injury and lower pain. You can apply heat and ice several times a day for 15 minutes. It will eventually help you feel more flexible.

Chin Tuck Exercise – Your spine specialist may recommend you to practice neck stretching called a chin tuck. The exercise targets a stabilizing muscle in the neck. Lie down on your back, look towards the ceiling, and move your chin towards your chest. You should not lift your head, and muscles in the front of the neck should stay relaxed. Repeat this exercise up to 10 times.

Physiotherapy – Whiplash injury can vary from person to person. The rehabilitation and treatment plan that a physiotherapist prescribes may depend on personal circumstances. They will help offload muscle, ease tension, improve mobility in the area, and optimize the healing process.

Massage Therapy – Massage therapy can relieve muscular pain in common types of whiplash injuries. Friction-based massage therapy can break up scar tissue, release tension, and stiffness.

Don’t let whiplash pain become a major complication. When you take a whiplash treatment in Calgary, the expert will ask questions about your neck injury, past health, and carefully examine your head and neck. A certified professional will help you develop a customized treatment plan. This way, you can get back to what you love doing!