Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment

Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment

If you’ve ever had neck pain either from a poor posture or bad sleeping positionthen you would knowhow uncomfortable it can be to have less control over neck motion. Whiplash is a kind of neck injury that occurs when the neck is thrown backward and forward in a rapid and fast manner; this sudden movement can cause the ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the neck to be displaced out of their normal position.

Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment 1Often referred to as neck sprain whiplash can cause weakness, inability to sleep,backpain, stiffness, and pain around the neck. In most situations, the symptoms of whiplash are not immediatelynoticeable till a few days after, it is important to take cognizance of any symptom to prevent the neck sprain from becoming a long-term pain.

Whiplash commonly occurs as a result of car accidents, contact sports accidents, cycling accidents, and horseback riding.There are different types of treatment to treat the symptoms of whiplash, one of which is physical therapy. Physical therapy is a reliable way to get rid of whiplash especially when utilized with other treatment options like medications and bracings. When you experience whiplash, the soft tissues of your neck that connect the muscle to the bones are damaged, a physical therapist can engage in different forms of modalities to help you restore the functions of those tissues.

Effective Physical Therapy Treatments for Whiplash

  • Ice and Heat Therapy: This method involves the use of ice and heat to decreasepain and muscle cramps. Therapists use both hot and cold therapies alternatively to increase the flow of blood and reduce inflammation in the affected area. The increased flow of blood to the target area can help your neck gain the nutrients it needs to heal.

Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment 2

  • Deep Tissue Massage: hisphysical therapy technique is done by targeting the muscles to ease the tension that might have developed as a result of the neck injury.The physiotherapist uses friction and applies direct pressure to release the tightness in your ligaments and tendons. This type of massage therapy deeply focuses on the area of pain.
  • Ultrasound: ultrasound in the treatment of whiplash can aid the relaxation of tensioned muscles and warm soft tissues. In this treatment, your physical therapist will apply a hypoallergenic gel to your neck to create a surface with no friction, then engage in the treatment to reduce stiffness, swelling,and pain. This technique sends sound waves into your tissues to create the heat needed for healing and blood circulation.

Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment 3

  • Electrical Stimulation: this physiotherapy option is also known as electro-stim. It is mostly used to reignite the ability of the muscles to contract. Improved contraction of the muscles can help alleviate the pain that comes with whiplash and enhance neck motion. in this treatment, electrodes arehooked to an electric stimulation machine and placed at the back of your neck by your physical therapist.

 

Physical Therapy for Whiplash Treatment 4In addition to the passive method of treatments discussed above, there are otheractive methods that your therapistcan recommend and engage you in if you have whiplash. These methods involvedifferent exercises to improve your motion and enhance your strength. It is necessary to embrace the fact that there is no general physical therapy method for everyone, only your therapist can choose a suitable program for you based on your history and health. Generally, physical therapies are efficient in the treatment of whiplash, utilizing them would help your neck heal in no time.

What To Do When You Sprain Your Ankle in the Wilderness?

What To Do When You Sprain Your Ankle in the Wilderness? 5

Imagine this for a moment.

You have finally mustered up the courage to step out into the wilderness to hike with friends this weekend.

The weather seemed fine. The breeze was perfect. And yet, you slip all of a sudden.

When you get, you find that nothing hurts except your ankle.

Now, what to do?

The deed is done already. You have sprained the ankle in the wilderness. The next step is to stop panicking and treat the sprained ankle temporarily. Honestly, it isn’t an easy feat to diagnose a sprained ankle, especially when you are in the middle of nowhere. At the same time, you just can’t leave it like that and let the pain elevate.

So, let’s check out the easy steps for ankle sprain treatment even when you are in the wilderness or away from advanced treatment facilities. But, before that, let’s analyze the possible causes along with the signs & symptoms.

What are the possible causes of ankle sprain in the wilderness?

The common causes of ankle sprain outdoors are:

  • You may trip while walking in the forest
  • Stepping over logs can cause ankle sprains
  • Putting on an excruciating heavy backpack can cause the same problem.
  • Falling suddenly or shovelling snow can also exert abnormal strain on feet muscles, thereby causing ankle sprains.

No matter what the reason is, it triggers tremendous pain to the extent that you will not be able to move your feet even by an inch. And ankle sprain treatment is mandatory in this situation to ensure the damage doesn’t go out of control.

How does an ankle sprain look like?

You know that’s an ankle sprain when you experience any of the following:

  • Pain or tenderness
  • Discoloration along with swelling
  • Inability to withstand the weight
  • Deformity
  • Loss of range of motion

The most significant symptom of an ankle sprain is severe pain. You may even hear the sound of pop when you sprain the ankle, followed by swelling and redness in the area.

What about the temporary ankle sprain treatment?

Let’s be clear first. It is ALWAYS better to visit a professional physiotherapist for ankle sprain treatment. However, if you need to apply immediate first aid, here’s what you should do:

  • Apply ice for a short period of time. Applying for long periods of time might suppress the swelling but worsens the healing process. You can apply ice 3-4 times a day and for 20 minutes only.
  • You can also use compression wraps to provide support to your ankles and reduce the swelling. Use socks to create a padding effect on the injury and wrap it with an elastic bandage.
  • Medications such as ibuprofen can help ease the pain to some extent.
  • Elevate the sprained ankle to reduce the throbbing pain and get some sleep

Besides the techniques mentioned here, you should also try your best not to panic. Keep yourself calm and focus on the tips mentioned above.