A fast jerk that throws your head forward or backward can cause neck strain called whiplash. Whiplash can occur when any impact or blow causes the head to move violently, pulling the neck muscles behind it. The extreme movement of your head pushes your neck beyond the normal range of motion.
Athletes, especially those who play contact sports like football, are often affected by whiplash or neck strain. Neck strains occur when the muscles or tendons are damaged and inflamed. Neck sprains are different – though often mistakenly used interchangeably – and occur when tearing occurs in the ligaments of the neck.
The results of whiplash can be mild or severe, usually depending how strong your neck muscles are and how violently your head was jerked. Often, whiplash takes a few weeks to completely heal, though some patients can develop chronic pain symptoms that do not disappear.
When you experience whiplash, symptoms will likely occur within 24 hours and may include:
Additional symptoms may also include:
You should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe symptoms, such as:
Any kind of accident or surprising movement that causes the head to be thrown backwards and forwards may cause whiplash. Common forms of whiplash occur with:
Women, infants and young children are more likely to experience whiplash than adult men. This is likely because their necks aren’t typically as strong, resulting in less muscle damage and less uncontrolled movement.
Since whiplash typically heals with a bit of time, we typically encourage our patients to reduce the symptoms and allow the body to heal on its own with upper cervical chiropractic care. Whiplash can be very painful and irritating, so you may also find it helpful to:
If you’ve experienced whiplash, contact our office to schedule a consultation to see how upper cervical chiropractic care may help relieve pain incurred from your injury.