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Whiplash Injury Treatment

Whiplash is a neck injury when your head is quickly moved forward and backward, causing the muscles and ligaments to stretch more than the typical ones. It can occur during a car accident, a fall, or any other type of impact trauma.

If you have been in a whiplash accident, seek proper medical treatment immediately. At Fountain Wellness, our physiotherapists specialize in helping patients recover from injuries. We will create a personalized injury treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms and help your neck regain a full range of motion. Book with us today to get started on your road to whiplash recovery.

whiplash injury recovery surrey

Who Can Get Whiplash?

Whiplash injuries occur to anyone, no matter their age. But it tends to lead to more serious or long-lasting injuries in two groups: older adults and women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB). 

In the case of older adults (those aged 65 and above), these injuries are often more severe due to their heightened vulnerability to muscle and bone injuries stemming from age-related weakening and deterioration.

For women and people with AFAB, whiplash associated disorders are higher. This could be due to several reasons:

  • Height Differences: Women and people AFAB are generally shorter than men and individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB). This height difference could contribute to the higher risk.

  • Spine Structure: The structure of the spinal column in women and people AFAB differs from that of men and people AMAB. This affects the spaces between the vertebrae and the bones that make up the spine.

  • Muscle Variations: Women and people with AFAB usually have less muscle tissue, which acts as a cushion against sudden impact. This means they could have less muscle to absorb the forces from movements.

  • Vehicle Design: Modern vehicles can impact women and people at AFAB risk. Headrests prevent the head from moving too far back during a collision. But because women and people AFAB are generally shorter, the seat back and headrest height will affect them differently.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

The signs of whiplash often start showing up within a day after the incident causing it, and sometimes they could appear a few weeks later. These symptoms can continue for several weeks.

Typical symptoms include:

  • Neck strain and stiffness
  • Headaches, particularly at the back of the head or in the spinal cord
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Feeling tired all the time

Less common symptoms linked to long-lasting whiplash are:

  • Trouble concentrating and remembering
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Being easily irritated
  • Chronic pain in the sensitive areas like the neck, shoulders, or head

Our Whiplash Injury Clinic Uses The Latest Technology

At Fountain Wellness, we use the latest technology and therapies to help our patients recover from their injuries. We offer treatments such as:

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation could be the solution if you’re struggling with severe pain in your neck. This technique involves gently applying pressure to the vertebrae in your neck to align your spine and alleviate nerve-related stress.

Exercise Therapy

Exercise is a crucial component of any recovery process. We’ll create a personalized exercise regimen tailored to your needs, helping you stretch and strengthen the muscles in your neck.

Joint Mobilization

To counter stiffness and pain, joint mobilization techniques are employed. We alleviate discomfort and restore flexibility by guiding your joints through their complete range of motion.

Soft Tissue Massage

Our soft tissue massages target muscle and ligament pain around your neck, relieving pain and reducing inflammation.

Muscle Release Techniques

These specialized massages work to release built-up tension in your muscles, enhancing your overall comfort.

Rehabilitative Exercises

Especially effective for whiplash injuries, these exercises enhance muscle strength and flexibility in your neck.

Our treatments are designed to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and speed healing. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Heal With Innovated Exercises for Whiplash

We teach our patients to do different exercises to help them recover from whiplash. These Whiplash physical therapy exercises include:

Neck Stretches

Through gentle neck stretches, we work to lengthen the muscles and ligaments in your neck. This brings pain relief and enhances your neck’s flexibility and movement range.

Neck Strengthening Exercises

Strengthening the neck muscles is crucial in stabilizing the spine and preventing future injury. Our specialized exercises target these muscles, aiding recovery and long-term wellness.

Posture Correction Exercises

Our approach’s key aspect is addressing poor posture, a common contributor to neck pain. Our exercises aim to correct posture imbalances, reducing pain and promoting proper alignment.

If you’re dealing with whiplash, waiting for treatment isn’t the answer. Reach out to Fountain Wellness today for a complimentary consultation with our physiotherapists. Together, we’ll identify the most suitable exercises for your situation, ensuring a well-rounded path to recovery. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Maintain Strong and Healthy Muscles after an Injury

Receiving professional treatment for an injury marks the initial step toward recovery. However, the journey doesn’t end there. Beyond medical care, dedicating time and effort to maintaining your body’s health becomes essential. This commitment serves to strengthen muscles and fend off the return of injury-related discomfort. Crafting a post-injury care plan is crucial, guaranteeing a smooth progression toward lasting wellness.

Following injury recovery, nurturing a robust and healthy neck takes center stage. Safeguarding against re-injury involves adopting preventive measures. 

At Fountain Wellness, we empower our patients with the tools to maintain optimal health, employing:

  • Wearing a Neck Brace: A neck brace stabilizes your spine, curtailing excessive forward or backward movement of your head.
  • Engaging in Neck Exercises: Regular neck exercises sustain your neck’s flexibility and motion range, reducing stiffness.
  • Embracing Good Posture: Cultivating good posture maintains spinal alignment and mitigates stress on your neck muscles.
  • Avoiding Impact Activities: Activities like contact sports or skiing can pose risks of re-injury. It’s essential to avoid such activities if you’ve experienced whiplash.

If you’ve successfully recuperated from an injury, rest assured that Fountain Wellness is committed to sustaining your health and averting future re-injury. Reach out today to arrange a free consultation – together, we’ll ensure your path to enduring well-being remains uninterrupted.

Get Your Whiplash Injury Treatment Today

Getting proper medical care as soon as possible is important if you’ve been in an accident. At Fountain Wellness, our physiotherapists specialize in helping patients recover from whiplash injuries. Depending on the intensity of your symptoms, you will get a personalized treatment plan, and we will help you regain the full range of motion in your neck. Contact us today to get started on your road to recovery!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Whiplash occurs when your speed or direction suddenly changes. Some common causes of whiplash are:

  • Car accidents
  • Sports with physical contact, like football, hockey, and rugby.
  • Riding roller coasters

While these are common triggers, whiplash can happen in various other situations. Even typical slips and falls can result in whiplash in specific situations.

Whiplash symptoms can vary widely depending on the individual and the severity of the injury. Common symptoms of whiplash may include:

  1. Neck pain and stiffness
  2. Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
  3. Pain or tenderness in the shoulders, upper back, or arms
  4. Reduced range of motion in the neck
  5. Fatigue and dizziness
  6. Tingling or numbness in the arms
  7. Difficulty concentrating or remembering
  8. Sleep disturbances

It is important to sleep in a comfortable position when you have whiplash. For example, you can use pillows to support your neck and head. It is also important to avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Diagnosing whiplash involves healthcare providers excluding other serious conditions that require immediate attention or could be causing the symptoms. They do this through various steps like tests, scans, physical exams, and asking about the circumstances that would have led to the whiplash, particularly car accidents.

Several types of tests are used to diagnose whiplash. These imaging scans can help healthcare providers rule out other problems and confirm whiplash as the cause. These tests include:

  • X-rays
  • Computerized Tomography (CT) Scans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans

Whiplash can be managed, but there’s no direct cure available. Instead, the treatment goal is to support the natural healing process of whiplash while minimizing discomfort and aiding recovery. Some individuals will also require care for ongoing issues related to whiplash.

Various treatments benefit whiplash and the most effective ones depend on whether the injury is recent or has lasting effects. Some treatments cater to both situations. Common whiplash treatments consist of:

  • Immobilization
  • Medications
  • Applying cold during the initial seven to ten days, followed by heat.
  • Exercise and physical therapy
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy
  • Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation
  • Spine Surgery