What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, most often in a rear-end car accident. "Whiplash" is a general term: it can mean an injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments or discs of the neck, or a combination. Because there are so many structures involved, an individual exam is needed to find the specific injury, how severe it is, and the right course of care.
How we treat it
Care is fitted to what we find on your exam and may include:
- Spinal adjustments for stiff, restricted joints
- Gentle stretching, soft-tissue work or electrical muscle stimulation to ease muscle tension
- Therapeutic exercise with equipment in our exercise rooms, to strengthen the neck and upper back and help restore normal movement
- Traction
- Advice on work, home and recreational activities that may be aggravating the injury, so you can avoid or modify them
If your exam suggests you need imaging or a specialist, we'll refer you.
After an accident
Some people choose to hire a personal injury attorney if they weren't at fault. That's your decision; here are some questions to ask. See also how accident care works and our car accident article.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Our doctors are doctors of chiropractic (D.C.), not medical doctors. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.