The Mayo Clinic defines Whiplash as “a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck”. Whether playing high contact sports such as football, enjoying a favorite summertime pastime of riding roller coasters or having been involved in a car accident, you are at risk of whiplash injury.
When the neck is whipped back and forth, a number of things can happen to the spine and the surrounding soft tissues. In turn, this can lead to a wide variety of symptoms including headaches, neck pain, joint dysfunction, disk herniation, chronic pain and cognitive dysfunction.
In order to avoid the above, we need to be able to identify a Whiplash injury so we can seek immediate attention. There are several key indicators that you need to be aware of:
- Headaches
- Blurred Vision
- Neck/Shoulder Pain
- Dizziness
- Arm Pain
- Low Back Pain
- Neck Stiffness
- Reduced Range of Motion
If you have recently been injured and are experiencing any of the above indicators or symptoms, it is recommended to get your spine checked as soon as possible.
The sooner you begin treatment, the less chance you have of developing chronic issues. Read more about this in our 3 Reasons to See a Chiropractor Following an Auto Accident
