Another blog post form Ann Arbor chiropractor Mike Tannenbaum, D.C.: Whiplash and Chiropractic

Whiplash: I'm sure you've heard of it, and you may think that it’s a medical term associated with a very specific injury. Well, that’s not exactly correct. Whiplash, I tell my Ann Arbor chiropractic patients, is not considered a medical term. Instead, the term is used to describe the general cause of a variety of injuries, primarily of the neck and upper back, that are caused by quick whipping like action. For example, when the head and neck quickly and suddenly flex forward and then quickly backwards, this can cause “whiplash.”

Whiplash is often seen because of rear-end car accidents but can also occur due to number of activities, such as contact sports, roller coaster rides, and accidental slips and falls.

The symptoms of whiplash can be quite varied. Here are some examples:

• Neck stiffness and pain

• Decreased ability to move the neck

• Arm and hand pain

• Arm and hand tingling and numbness

• Dizziness

• Muscle spasm

• Ringing in the ears

I let my Ann Arbor chiropractic patients know that injuries resulting from whiplash should be treated as soon as possible. The longer it takes to start treatment, the harder the symptoms from these injuries are to resolve. I also let my Ann Arbor chiropractic patients know that rest and or using a support collar for the treatment of whiplash injuries is not recommended, as resting causes the muscles in the injured area to weaken. Furthermore, I let my Ann Arbor chiropractic patients know that chiropractic is a very effective and safe treatment of injuries resulting from whiplash.

If you have any questions about this blog post, chiropractic, back pain, neck pain, or headaches, I can be reached at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected].

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.