What does it mean to have whiplash? What symptoms come with it? And can chiropractic care really help? Our team at Harrisburg Family Chiropractic answers these questions and more below.

What is whiplash exactly?

Whiplash is an injury that occurs when your body sustains an impact forceful enough to move your neck in a violent way. It’s called "whiplash" because the neck is "whipped" around, typically in a forward and backward motion. When this happens, the neck goes beyond its normal range of motion, and the soft tissues tear.

How do I know if I have whiplash?

Most often, whiplash occurs after a car accident, but it can also occur during contact sports, physical assault, roller coaster rides, and similar events. It causes symptoms such as stiffness and tenderness of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, fatigue, headaches, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, dizziness, and blurry vision. If you notice any of these symptoms after an event like those mentioned, there is a good chance you've sustained a whiplash injury.

What if I don't feel any symptoms?

It's not abnormal to be without symptoms – at least in the immediate aftermath of an incident. Shock can make the body numb to pain. Usually, you'll feel the symptoms within a day or two, but it could take much longer. The best move is to visit a chiropractor immediately after an incident as they can detect signs even before you notice symptoms.

Will the symptoms go away on their own?

There is a chance that you'll recover from many of the symptoms on your own, but some people suffer for months or years. In fact, some effects of whiplash can stay with you throughout your life without proper treatment.

Can a chiropractor really help me?

A chiropractor can help, beginning with a full and accurate diagnosis of whiplash and any other injuries you've sustained. Typically, treatment begins with treating the soft tissues to provide pain relief and improve your range of motion. Additional treatment methods will then be used to achieve full and lasting healing.

Visit Our Chiropractor for Whiplash Relief

If you have other questions that you'd like answered or you're ready to begin your journey to pain relief, call (605) 767-7463 to schedule a chiropractic care appointment with our team at Harrisburg Family Chiropractic in Harrisburg, SD.