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.
Often 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.
- 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.
- 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.
In 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.