What is Whiplash?
Whiplash can happen when the neck is forced beyond its normal range of motion. This overstretches the tendons, muscles and ligaments in the neck causing pain.
Whiplash is most commonly caused by:
- Car accidents
- A heavy object hitting you on the head
- A fall where the head is jolted
- A blow to the head, such as during contact sport
Understanding whiplash: everything you need to know
What is whiplash? How do you know if you’ve got whiplash? Read on to find out.
Whiplash symptoms usually begin within 6 to 12 hours after the injury but in severe cases it can be immediate. Often there is discomfort on the day of the injury leading to later onset of pain, swelling or bruising that can increase over subsequent days. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Arm pain
- Upper back pain
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Visual or hearing problems
- Difficulties speaking or swallowing
Before beginning your neck injury treatment at our Como Physio clinic, it’s important to determine the exact reason why you are experiencing pain or discomfort. There are many causes of neck pain, and your physiotherapist is experienced in diagnosing the specific cause.
Whiplash physiotherapy is a very effective treatment for the range of symptoms associated with this disorder. Initially your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause and location of your pain and injury. It may be necessary to use other diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray, MRI or CT scan to fully assess the injury.
Neck injury treatment in Como will reduce pain and inflammation, help to strengthen your neck and restore normal movement. It’s recommended that you allow your neck to remain mobile rather than using a cervical collar. Studies show that performing regular neck exercises under supervision improve recovery time, however this will depend on the severity of the injury and if you are able to support your neck. Your physiotherapist for neck pain will be able to advise you on this.
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Strengthen the neck and upper back muscles
- Improve neck range of motion
- Improve posture
- Normalise muscle length
- Improve your ability to cope with daily activities
- Reduce further injury
During treatment your pain should decrease and your neck stability should improve. Your physio may use massage, dry needling, mobilisation or manipulation techniques to improve neck function and reduce stiffness and a lack of mobility. Whiplash responds well to physiotherapy and most patients see improvement over a few weeks.
Each person is different and severity will vary from person to person. As a result, recovering from a whiplash injury can take anywhere from a few days to several months. With the proper treatment the majority of whiplash injuries recover well.
Whiplash is an injury caused by a sudden force to the neck. It can cause pain, inflammation, headaches and many other symptoms depending on the severity. Physiotherapy is a very effective treatment for whiplash injuries and the majority of sufferers respond well to neck injury treatment in Perth.
