Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of head and neck injuries resulting from an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck.
These forces may result in painful injuries to the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck and other spinal areas. However, sometimes they result in no injury or pain at all.
Whiplash differs in severity from patient to patient, and as such, symptoms vary between cases. Directly after impact, patients may not be aware of any neck swelling or bruising. Symptoms typically arise between 12 and 24 hours after the accident. However, pain and stiffness from whiplash is typically worse on the day following the accident and may continue to worsen with each day. While car collisions are the most common cause of whiplash, there are a number of other activities and accidents with a strong enough impact to cause whiplash:
- Contact sports (rugby, boxing, karate, football)
- A horse-back riding or cycling accident
- Any fall which causes the head to jolt backwards suddenly
- Direct impact of large or heavy object on head
A Physiotherapist will perform a head and neck examination and discuss your symptoms with you to determine the best course of whiplash treatment. From there, the Physio will know the grade of your whiplash, the areas affected and will be able to optimise a treatment plan to relieve pain and speed the healing process.
Treatment methods for whiplash may include:
- Deep Tissue Massage The physio uses direct pressure and friction to try to release the tension in your soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles).
- Heat Therapy By using heat, the physio seeks to get more blood to the target area because an increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to that area. Blood is also needed to remove waste byproducts created by muscle spasms, and it also helps healing.
- Ultrasound By increasing blood circulation, an ultrasound helps reduce muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness, and pain. It does this by sending sound waves deep into your muscle tissues, creating a gentle heat that enhances circulation and healing.
- Exercise to encourage flexibility, strength and good posture.
- ROM exercises, low load isometric, postural endurance and strengthening exercises
- Fine neck muscle and proprioception retraining programs.
- Acupuncture or dry needling for pain relief.
- Education on the injury.
- The importance of continuing your normal daily regime
- Advice for ergonomic and lifestyle changes. If needed, you will learn how to correct your posture and incorporate ergonomic principles into your daily activities. Even after you recover from whiplash, this posture work should help you because you’ll be able to prevent other forms of neck pain that develop from daily living.
- Joint mobilisation or manipulation to loosen stiff joints.
- Vestibular rehabilitation if dizziness is one of your symptoms.
- Kinesio taping may assist in reducing pain.
Towards Wellness
Add Spinach to Your Diet
Aside from being rich in vitamin C, which is the number one vitamin that boosts immune function, Spinach is also packed with antioxidants and beta carotene that are significant in the infection-fighting capability of our immune system. You may add spinach to your smoothie ingredients or just lightly cook it when use in other dishes to retain its nutrients.
Stretch of the Month
The Chin Nod Stretch
- Lie down with a soft pillow under your neck, and with your knees bent up.
- Gently and slowly nod your head forward as if to say ‘yes’.
- Feel the muscles at the front of your neck.
- Stop the nodding action just before you feel the front muscles hardening.
- Hold the nod position for five seconds and then relax.
- Gently move your head back to the normal start position
- Repeat up to 10 times.