Whiplash is a Pain in the Neck
Working Through Whiplash With Physical Therapy
Imagine you are driving home from work in stop-and-go traffic. As the brake lights ahead shine red, you apply the brake and come to a stop. Suddenly you are hit from behind by a car who was unable to stop in time, the impact whipping your neck back and forth.
Depending on the force of the impact, you may have suffered a whiplash injury. With good luck, the injury is minor and you are feeling great after a few days but in the case of a more serious case of whiplash, do you know what to do to help your neck heal fully?
Did you know that physical therapy, when started early (or late, if necessary), can help improve symptoms of whiplash?
WHAT IS WHIPLASH?
Whiplash is caused by a rapid and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck. A sudden deceleration or acceleration of the body is usually the culprit such as when a car is rear ended causing the head to whip forward and then backwards. Sporting accidents, falls and other traumas can also lead to whiplash.
This rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck stretches and strains the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the neck. Localized inflammation affecting these structures and nearby nerves contributes to symptoms of whiplash. Depending on the severity of your injury, imaging and examination by a doctor may be a necessary first step. If any fractures or evidence of significant instability in the neck are found this will require medical treatment like bracing and in some cases, surgery.
Symptoms of whiplash can vary but neck pain and stiffness, headache, dizziness, pain with movement, fatigue, tingling in the arms and hands, tenderness along the muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back are common. Other injuries such as concussion, intervertebral disc herniation or vertebral fracture can also occur in conjunction with the whiplash injury and need to be evaluated individually.
ANATOMY OF THE NECK
To better understand why whiplash injuries can cause so many symptoms, let’s take a deeper look into the structures of the neck itself. The neck is formally known as the cervical spine and is made up of 7 bony vertebrae that connect the bottom of the skull to the top of the upper back and ribcage. This area of the spine is made to be strong enough to support the weight of the skull and brain while still allowing for the many degrees of motion that we use daily. In between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc which provides cushioning and shock absorption. Traveling through the bony spinal canal created by the vertebrae is the spinal cord which carries motor and sensory information to and from the brain and the rest of the body.
There are many muscles that attach to the skull and neck bones and connect to lower vertebrae, the shoulder blades, the clavicle, and the upper ribs. Some muscles are more superficial--closer to the skin--that act as movers of the neck and other bones while other muscles lie deeper and act to stabilize the neck and head.
Due to the forces created by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, some or all of these structures can be affected in a whiplash injury. Herniation of an intervertebral disc or swelling around the nerves that supply the arms can cause symptoms of tingling, numbness or radiating pain in the hands and arms. Fractures of the vertebrae caused by high forces to the neck can cause injury to the spinal cord itself. Overstretching of the ligaments that stabilize the vertebral column can cause instability of the neck that, if left untreated, can put pressure on the nerves and spinal column. Tearing of the muscles and tendons that support and stabilize the neck can cause pain, muscle stiffness and feelings of weakness. All of these effects can contribute to dizziness, fatigue and headaches.
WHY SHOULD I WORK WITH A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AFTER WHIPLASH INJURY?
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries and left untreated has a high economic burden both personally and societally. Missed days of work, high healthcare costs and personal and social impacts should not be ignored. While a minor case of whiplash may very well resolve on its own with time, more severe cases can result in chronic symptoms if not addressed appropriately. This can lead to a cycle of pain impacting one’s ability to participate in necessary and desired activities at work, in the home and community, and a reliance on symptom-management solutions like medications.
While rest and protection of the injured neck may be necessary in the first few days after the injury, an active recovery approach through physical therapy can help speed up recovery and minimize chronic symptoms. After whiplash injury you may feel inclined to rest until your pain resolves, but there are many benefits to initiating gentle movement and exercise prescribed by a physical therapist. Even if you need prolonged bracing or surgery for a more serious neck injury, physical therapy can be helpful in managing symptoms and improving long term outcomes.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY PT SESSIONS?
Treatment for whiplash injury will always be individualized to your specific needs. Initial and then ongoing assessments of your symptoms and abilities guide each treatment session so that your therapist can help you progress in your recovery. While symptom reduction may be a primary goal initially, over time the focus will shift to restoring normal strength and mobility around the neck and returning to daily activities without return of symptoms. Here are some of the goals of physical therapy for whiplash injury:
Reduce pain, inflammation and irritation: While completely eliminating your symptoms may take time, making you more comfortable in the meantime is an important first step in your rehabilitation. Applying ice or heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation to the affected area can often give you some relief. Soft tissue mobilization or gentle joint mobilization may also be employed by your physical therapist to reduce tissue irritation.
Improve flexibility: Your PT program may include stretching, myofascial release techniques, joint mobilization and mobility exercises to improve flexibility and range of motion.
Build up your strength: You will learn exercises to help strengthen the muscles around the neck, arms and upper back.
Return to your prior level of function: After whiplash it may take some time before you can return fully to your previous activities. Part of your physical therapy treatment will be preparing the neck and overall body for return to pain-free and biomechanically-optimized movements so that you can get back to normal life.
DON’T WAIT TO SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST VISIT
If you have experienced a whiplash injury, physical therapy can help improve your symptoms and reduce the likelihood of symptom recurrence. Call us today to learn more about our services and schedule an evaluation: 1-718-258-3300
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About EvolveNY-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics-
There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
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