Whiplash is an injury to the cervical spine, which is caused by a jerking motion of the head and neck. When the head is thrown backward or forward, whiplash can occur. You can get whiplash in many other ways besides just car accidents. Playing sports, horseplay, awkward falls or even a sudden sneeze can result in whiplash. Whiplash can certainly be painful, and many times people will choose to enlist a chiropractor or spinal therapist service for help and pain relief. A chiropractor or spinal therapist can put the spine back in alignment so that the rest of the body can heal.
Most commonly whiplash injuries are caused when a car is hit from behind. The neck is flexed and extended without head support, and these tears the muscle and ligament fibres which contract to try and protect the head. In a typical whiplash injury the muscles at the front of the neck feel tender, and any movement of the neck is painful. Sometimes with less severe injuries, the pain may only come on after a day or so. The symptoms include pain in the neck, headaches, occasionally low back pain, arm pain, numbness and tingling in the arms, and pain in the jaw. With whiplash, if severe pain starts immediately or soon after the accident, then an x-ray of the neck may be helpful to exclude a fracture.
Whiplash injury is a debilitating condition resulting from violent neck movements such as produced during car accidents. There is no single proven remedy for whiplash. Therefore, Western medicine typically educates the patient about her condition and encourages a gradual resumption of normal activities.
This is beneficial, but not satisfactory for everyone. Some clients have found relief in complementary medicine, and yoga therapy is one of these approaches to help with whiplash. Yoga therapy proposes gentle mobilisation (joint freeing series) for pain relief and for restoring range of motion and relaxation techniques, such as deep abdominal breathing, help to reduce pain. Later on in the treatment, specific yoga postures are used to increase the strength of the trapeziums and sternocleidomastoid muscles helping to release whiplash.
It would be completely understandable why you can get depressed with whiplash, as the pain can take its toll. When you see a chiropractor service for whiplash, they could tell you some good herbal remedies that will help. A chiropractor service for whiplash may also wish to incorporate yoga for stretching when they feel the time is right.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher, dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
