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.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF WHIPLASH?

Symptoms of whiplash can range from mild to severe depending on the severity and force of the initial injury. Individuals with whiplash may experience the following symptoms:

• Neck pain and stiffness that may worsen with movement
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Tenderness along the muscles of the neck and tops of the shoulders and upper back
• Difficulty turning or moving the head
• Difficulty finding a comfortable position to sleep
• Tingling in the arms or hands

WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY FIRST APPOINTMENT?

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 longer duration bracing and in some cases, surgery. If longer duration bracing or surgery is needed, your physician and surgeon will advise you on a start date for physical therapy. In all cases, however, physical therapy can help treat the symptoms of whiplash and in most cases, physical therapy intervention should begin right away.

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help correct your whiplash, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy for whiplash sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized whiplash physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your whiplash PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

Early treatment of whiplash injury: In the first few days after injury, a soft cervical (neck) collar may be recommended to minimize movement of the neck and allow for some pain relief but your physical therapist will aim to wean you off of the collar as soon as possible, as wearing it longer than is necessary can prolong recovery. Modalities like heat, ice or electrical stimulation may be used to manage pain and inflammation. Education on positioning for sleep and comfort, the importance of gentle exercise like walking and incorporating pain-free movement of other areas of the body may be prescribed.

Subacute injury phase: In most cases, after the first 5-6 days post-injury it becomes safe to begin incorporating gentle movement of the tissues and joints in the neck. Keep in mind, the body is still working hard to repair the injuries to the ligaments, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues around the neck and can be easily re-injured during this phase. Working with a physical therapist provides you with the guidance on how much movement of the muscles and joints of the neck will facilitate further recovery without causing re-injury. Restoring range of motion, reducing pain and preventing loss of strength in other areas like the arms are goals of this phase of rehab.

You will begin to perform some exercises with the arms and maybe even the legs. Your physical therapist may initiate some very gentle stretching and manual therapy such as joint mobilizations and soft tissue mobilization to help with pain reduction. Modalities like electrical stimulation, heat, or ice may also be utilized for symptom management.

Chronic injury phase: After a few weeks, the tissues in the neck should have recovered to a point where appropriately stressing them will help the healing tissue to become better aligned and strengthened. Adding in more strengthening exercises, increasing participation in daily activities and continuing to improve range of motion and tissue mobility help you to reach full recovery. Once again, setbacks can occur if aggressive activities and exercises are resumed too early so working with a PT is an important strategy for progressing exercise optimally.

DON’T WAIT TO SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST VISIT

If you have experienced a whiplash injury, physical therapy can get you in the fast lane to recovery. While it may take time for symptoms to fully resolve, with the guidance of your PT, you can feel confident you are doing everything possible to support your body’s healing process and facilitate long-term improvements. Call us today to learn more about our services and schedule an evaluation: