Blog post #240 from Ann Arbor Chiropractor Mike Tannenbaum, D.C.: What is Whiplash and How to Treat It?

Whiplash – You’ve heard of it, but what is it? What causes it? Whiplash is a fairly common “flexion-extension injury.”

But what’s that? Flexion means bending the neck forward, and extension refers to bending the neck backward. Sometimes people get whiplash as a result of being in a car accident – or from playing contact sports – where there is a sudden impact, or sudden motion, in which the neck moves quickly forward and then immediately moves quickly backwards.

Whiplash can cause damage to the muscles, ligaments, tendon, vertebrae, and nerves of the neck. It can also misalign bones of the neck and upper back, resulting in

neck pain

stiffness

headaches

muscle spasm

dizziness

blurred vision

numbness/pins and needles in the neck, arms, & hands

Whiplash can also cause lifelong neck and upper back pain and various other nerve and musculoskeletal problems.

What should you do if you think you have whiplash?

 Get treated right away. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to heal. Long-term effects of untreated whiplash are chronic pain and possible permanent nerve and bone/joint damage. Chiropractors have an excellent track record of successfully treating whiplash. So, if you suspect whiplash, immediately contact a chiropractor, who will assess your condition with a thorough exam and set a course of action to treat your whiplash.

For questions about this blog post, chiropractic, headaches, back pain, or neck pain, I can be contacted at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected].

The information contained in this post is for information only and should not be used as medical advice.