Whiplash is one of the most common car accident related injuries, and it can cause serious neck pain, headaches, numbness, and even limitations on physical activities. Though whiplash can clear up on its own, it can sometimes take months or even years. A severe case of whiplash may never clear up, and, if left untreated, it can cause lifelong pain and physical limitations. If you suffer from whiplash in Naples, FL, a chiropractor offers a variety of treatment options to stimulate your body’s own natural healing process and get you on the road to recovery more quickly.
The most common treatment a chiropractor will use for whiplash is muscle stimulation and relaxation. In this treatment method, a chiropractor will gently stretch tense muscles or contract inhibited muscles. Very severely tense muscles may require more rigorous stretching. In conjunction with this, a chiropractor will often apply manual pressure to release tension. Another common chiropractic treatment for whiplash in Naples, FL is manipulation. In this treatment, the chiropractor manually moves a misplaced disc back into its normal position. Usually this is done with a quick, sharp movement, but sometimes a chiropractor will use a slower movement, particularly when working on the sensitive neck which houses so many vital nerves. By moving the disc back into place, it allows the body to begin its natural healing process, reducing inflammation in surrounding soft tissue and nerves and restoring chemical balance.
There are other less common treatments for whiplash in Naples, FL. Some chiropractors will use the McKenzie Method, a physical therapy and chiropractic regimen developed in the 1960’s by Robin McKenzie. The basic premise of this method is that spinal extension can centralize the pain, meaning that pain leaves the arms and legs, and centralizes in the back. The chiropractor can then treat the problem at its source rather than trying to treat the various symptoms. The McKenzie exercises for whiplash are initially done in the office, but can then be done at home, allowing the patient to take a more active role in his or her recovery. Stabilization and sensorimotor activities are another chiropractic method used to treat whiplash in Naples. These exercises help to fix incorrect motions, improve coordination, movement, and muscle control, and strengthen the neck muscles. A chiropractor can also give advice in how to complete daily activities without undue stress on the neck. He or she may also train a patient in stress reduction exercises. Chiropractic care has been found an extremely effective treatment for whiplash in Naples, FL. Don’t live with the pain of injury and just hope that it will eventually go away. Call an experienced chiropractor and learn how your body can begin to naturally heal.
Bergtold Chiropractic specializes in the treatment of whiplash in Naples, FL and other car accident related injuries.
