Whiplash Treatment

Whiplash is defined as an acceleration/deceleration injury to head and neck. Most often whiplash is associated with motor vehicle accidents although it can also occur from high speed sports or trauma such as a direct blow to the head and neck. Whiplash injuries can be mild or severe and are often felt after 24-72 hours following the accident or injury.

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

• Muscle spasm of affected muscles in the neck
• Possible ligament sprains
• Loss of consciousness
• Headaches
• Possible restricted range of motion – side bending, side to side rotation and forward and backward neck bending
• Dizziness
• Pain and tenderness in the affected muscles of the head and neck
• Nausea
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (compression of nerves/blood vessels in the neck shoulder region)
• If the signs are neurological you may have a loss of muscle strength and atrophy usually within 72 hours of injury
• Whiplash are graded by classifications called WAD (whiplash associated disorder) levels 1 to 4. Grades 1 and 2 are the most common.

Treatment of whiplash

• Reducing pain and inflammation
• Reducing muscle spasm that contribute to elevated signs and symptoms of whiplash
• Increasing the range of motion of the head/neck
• Treatment will focus on reducing pain and inflammation, increasing range of motion and stabilizing the muscles of the head and neck
• Treatment for whiplash can be treated with physiotherapy, massage therapy or acupuncture

If you have any questions about Whiplash contact our staff at Dynamic Physiotherapy.