Whiplash is a common auto accident injury sustained when you are hit from behind or directly in front. It occurs when your head whips backward and forward rapidly without warning. Your neck muscles and ligaments get stretched, and you can end up with significant pain almost immediately. Even if you don't feel the effects of whiplash right away, tightness and headaches can settle in after a day or two. If you are diagnosed with whiplash, a chiropractor can use a variety of techniques to get you started on the path to healing. Chiropractic care can be used in combination with other therapies, as it won't interfere with different treatment providers.

Whiplash Treatment With a Chiropractor

A chiropractor is going to evaluate your injuries in order to determine what type of care to provide. If you are diagnosed with whiplash, cervical spinal adjustments can be done to get your spine back into alignment. In the early stages of treatment, adjustments can be done using a hand-held device called an activator. This is a gentle way to adjust your cervical spine and is beneficial when your muscles are extremely tight. Beyond adjustments, a chiropractor may use stretching, decompression techniques, massage, and ultrasound to help heal your muscles and ligaments.

How Massage and Ultrasound Improve Whiplash

Whiplash results when your muscles and ligaments have been stretched beyond normal, causing stiffness and pain. Massage and ultrasound both help to increase circulation to the area, bringing nutrient-dense blood to help heal your tissue. Massage is going to help you relax your muscles, while ultrasound works to help break up scar tissue. Both are commonly used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with a chiropractor for whiplash.

Recovering From Whiplash Over Time

It can take time to fully recover from whiplash, and it is recommended that you see a chiropractor several times a week to get started in treatment. You will start to feel better after adjustments, but the improvement doesn't last long in the beginning. As you progress in treatment, you will start to see that your symptoms remain gone for longer periods of time in between sessions. 

Once you have recovered from your whiplash, you can work with a chiropractor once a month or so for maintenance therapy. Chiropractic care is a natural solution to pain relief, and it is safe to use in combination with other treatments because it doesn't interfere. For more information, contact an auto injury chiropractor near you.