If you have been involved in a car accident, chances are that you may have suffered from whiplash injury, especially if the car was hit from behind causing a sudden forward jerking of your head. Common symptoms that may indicate you have whiplash may include neck pain and stiffness, jaw pain, headaches and back pain and shoulder blades. The good news is that you can manage and relieve the symptoms of whiplash using simple and non-invasive chiropractic treatments. Here is a look at the various chiropractic techniques at your disposal in your attempt to treat your whiplash injuries.

Chiropractic manipulation

This involves manipulation of the spine and is the main treatment for treating joint dysfunction of the neck and spine caused by whiplash, Chiropractors generally use finger pressure to move your neck joints into the direction which it is restricted, resulting in better neck mobility and reduced swelling and pain. Short thrusts and a slow mobilizing motion may also be applied on your injured neck and spinal joints, resulting in reduced stiffness and increased blood flow in the injured areas, and hence a faster recovery.

Muscle relaxation and stimulation

This is a very effective chiropractic treatment for whiplash, which aims to relieve the pain associated with tight neck muscles. Chiropractors achieve this by applying gentle finger pressure along various trigger points in your neck and back, effectively relieving nerve pressure in affected areas and improving blood circulation. Finger pressure also serves to stretch muscles that are inhibited or that have repeated constrictions, resulting in reduced muscle tension.

McKenzie Exercises and Stabilization

These consist of certain movements that help reduce disk derangement caused by whiplash. Patients are taught how to position themselves so as to avoid overextending their spine during normal daily activities, and how to stretch their back and neck so as to relieve whiplash pain. With the help of a trained physical therapist, you can learn how to manage whiplash pain through exercises that extend your spine.

This method of treating whiplash is very effective as it emphasizes on self-treatment, where the patient is taught how to manage his or her own pain and how to prevent any recurring injuries caused by poorly positioning their spine.

If you have suffered from whiplash injury, the chiropractic treatments highlighted above can help reduce your pain and mobilize your neck so that you can quickly return to normal functioning in your everyday activities.