What are the causes and treatment for whiplash?

The term whiplash is most often associated with an injury resulting from a car accident.
What you might not realise though, is the term covers a range of different injuries. Like in a car crash the injuries come from a jolt, where the head or neck was moving forward and then was forced backwards.
This force causes injuries to the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck and spine - or it might not cause an injury at all.
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Whiplash differs in severity from person to person. There might be no sign of bruising or swelling immediately after the injury, it can take between 12 and 14 hours for anything to become apparent. It often feels worse the day after and normally continues to feel worse with each day.

Car collisions are the most common cause of whiplash, but other causes include contact sports, such as rugby or boxing, horse-riding, direct impact of a large object on the head, or a fall which causes the head to suddenly jolt backwards.

Physiotherapists can perform an assessment of the head and neck and discuss your symptoms to come up with the best treatment for you. From this, they will be able to tell the grade of your whiplash, which areas are affected and the best treatment to relieve pain and speed up healing.

Different treatment methods for whiplash and whiplash associated disorders might include:

• Deep Tissue Massage – Where the physio uses direct pressure and friction to release the tension in your soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles)
• Heat therapy – Using heat gets more blood to the target area, because increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to the area. Blood is also needed to remove waste by-products created by muscle spasms, and helps healing.
• Ultrasound – This increases blood circulation and in turn reduced muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness and pain. It does this by sending sound waves in to your muscle tissues, creating a gentle heat.
• Exercise – To encourage flexibility, strength and good posture. They could include range of movement exercises, postural endurance and strengthening exercises, as well as fine neck muscle retraining programs.
• Acupuncture or dry needling – for pain relief
• Education on the injury – this is important so you know how to continue normal life without concern. It might include advice on lifestyle changes and, if needed, teaching on how to correct posture.
• Joint mobilisation or manipulation – to loosen stiff joints
• Vestibular rehabilitation – if dizziness is one of your symptoms
• Kinesio taping – may assist in reducing pain

Speak to one of our physiotherapists today, so you can get back to feeling pain-free!

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