The Concepts Of Whiplash Explained
Whiplash most commonly occurs in car crashes where there has been a sudden stop/slowing, but has been known to occur during other strenuous activities. The whiplash itself occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is strained or stretched, due to the body being thrown in a sudden jerk.
Likely symptoms of whiplash are ongoing, persistent headaches and feeling stiff in the neck and head. Symptoms usually arise in the first few days following a collision and have in most casers usually pass after several days, or at worst, weeks.
In a few cases the headaches, reduced neck movement, lumber pain, and disrupted sleep will continue, and this more serious condition is referred to as whiplash continuation syndrome.
A small percentage of whiplash cases can be dangerous, and if you suffer from memory loss or unconsciousness after a collision, then it is important you speak to a doctor or go to the hospital, particularly if you experience pins and needles in the arms, a severe headache or heaviness in the arms.
When suffering from the pain of whiplash, there are some things you can do to ease the symptoms. One of the best methods of relief is applying an ice pack to the back of the neck, and we’ve found that bags of frozen peas or other vegetables are useful for this, due to their malleability, as they cushion the affected area. To use one safely it is best to wrap it in a towel, so there is no contact with the skin and be sure to keep the head elevated and used the pack for 20-minute intervals.
Further to this, by resting and wearing a soft, supportive collar those suffering from whiplash are more likely to make a speedy recovery, though the temptation may be to try and continue in normal activities.There is no prescriptive car accident treatment for whiplash, although taking paracetamol and doing specific neck exercises will ease the symptoms.
While whiplash is a commonly recognized condition, not many people know about all of the causes of the affliction or the preventative measures they can take to minimize their potential suffering. Whiplash is the name of a condition which causes pain in the neck as a result of damage to the ligaments, tendons or muscles in the neck – this harm is normally done when the neck suffers sudden trauma, but whiplash can also be caused by long-term damage to the neck.
The nature of the injury means that it is frequently associated with car accidents, although it can also often be caused by sharp or sudden blows to the head that put unexpected strain on the structure of the neck or even during sporting exercises such as diving.
When an impending impact is anticipated there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of suffering from whiplash. You may have heard that going loose or floppy is the best way to avoid hurting yourself on impact, but this does not hold true for car crashes. Instead, you want the muscles of your spine to be clenched so that they can better protect the important cord within.
If possible, prepare yourself for a crash by bracing your hands against the steering wheel or dashboard and press your feet into the floor. Try and force your head and neck back against your headrest and this will help to reduce the risk of your head being jerked forward and back quickly and therefore will lessen the risks of whiplash.
Another important preparation is the proper adjustment of your headrest. Whenever you are sitting in a car, ensure that your headrest is properly lined up with the middle of your head. If it is too low, it will not be able to do its job properly by helping to protect your neck from whiplash.
If an accident that is suspected to have caused whiplash has occurred, an ice pack pressed to the neck will help relieve inflammation and can help for up to 24 hours after the incident. Aside from the application of an ice pack, and painkillers when needed, car accident chiropractor for whiplash includes a range of exercises to strengthen and gently stretch the muscles which is done by southern nevada chiropractic or a car accident doctor.