Whiplash Physiotherapy is a painful but necessary process for victims of car accidents. If an accident has thrown you forward and backward in quick succession, then the impact will be very painful. The pain will be worse if you stand or walk after the accident, as this makes your spine stiff from the impact. You may find it hard to sleep well or do your job properly. If you have been injured at work, it may be impossible to return to normal duty without some form of physical therapy.
Whiplash Physiotherapy treatment is one way to help reduce the pain associated with a neck injury. If your neck has been injured, you may feel pain in the area behind your shoulder. This can also affect your ability to talk and concentrate whiplash injury. You will also need support when sitting or standing for long periods of time. It is best not to drive while suffering from this neck pain as it may cause problems later on. An assessment by a chiropractor or osteopath can determine the cause of your whiplash and give you the appropriate treatment.
The Best Kind of Whiplash Physiotherapy Treatment
Your chiropractor or osteopath will examine your neck to see where the problem is and what the best solution will be for your specific circumstances. Whiplash Physiotherapy treatments are usually in the clinic once a day for up to six weeks. During this time your therapist will manipulate your neck muscles, spine, and joints in order to get you back into good physical shape. After this period, your therapist may recommend a course of exercise to help you re-position and strengthen your muscles.
Many people ask the same questions about whiplash therapy, such as what is the usual treatment, is it safe to use heat or ice? How long does whiplash physiotherapy take to really work? Will patients need to take cortisone or not and if so, at what dose?
Whiplash Physiotherapy
The typical whiplash treatment will last between fifteen and twenty minutes. It will start with your chiropractor adjusting the alignment of your spine, then give you targeted exercises to help strengthen your neck muscles. Ice can be used at the beginning to reduce swelling, then heat when the pain becomes more manageable whiplash injury. Anti-inflammatory medication can be taken afterward to help speed up the healing process. You will usually get back to normal activity within a couple of days, but it depends on the severity of your whiplash injury.
Final Words
In my experience, most patients who undergo whiplash therapies feel less pain immediately after the treatments, although this may vary from person to person. There are sometimes residual or long term effects which need to be addressed. You may feel sore for weeks, maybe even months. This is due to the fact that you will be carrying extra weight on your back and neck muscles for quite some time after the treatment has finished. If you continue to do light activities on a daily basis during this time, this will only aggravate your condition.