Chiropractic Whiplash Treatment Jacksonville 

Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries, affecting over 2 million Americans each year. This condition results from fast back-and-forth movement of the neck, often described as a neck strain or sprain. While car accidents are the leading cause, whiplash can also be caused by high-impact sports, amusement park rides, or sudden falls. Unlike most injuries that improve with rest, whiplash requires immediate treatment to prevent any further damage to the surrounding areas. Resting after a whiplash injury can cause your muscles to become stiff and weak, overall prolonging pain and recovery time. We prioritize keeping your neck healthy and flexible. Book your appointment today at Beach Blvd Chiropractic in Jacksonville to get effective Whiplash treatment and immediate pain relief. 

Understanding Whiplash

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take aggressive force to be diagnosed with a Whiplash injury. In fact, most whiplash injuries occur from car accidents at speeds of 10 mph or less, the level of damage usually depends on if a seatbelt was worn or not. This condition is more common in elderly people and individuals with pre-existing health conditions like arthritis in the neck. As we get older it’s a lot easier for us to strain muscles and joints because of limited muscle movement, stiffness, and a decrease in strength, this is why taking precautions and exercising consistent movement is crucial. As we dive deeper into the mechanics of whiplash, you’ll learn just how sensitive our necks really are. Whiplash is the result of how our bodies interact with a single law of physics, called inertia, that forces your neck and head to move at two different speeds. When this happens your neck can stretch or fold too quickly forcing joints and ligaments to stretch past their level of comfortability, the sharper and stronger the movement is, the greater the damage is caused to your neck. 

Recognizing Whiplash Symptoms 

Regardless of severity, Whiplash symptoms may appear immediately after an injury or take up to 12 to 48 hours to appear. Experts created an injury scale to measure the severity of whiplash disorders titled the Quebec Classification of Whiplash Associated Disorders. This grading system is used to measure symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe neurological damage:

• Grade 0: A person shows no signs of pain or injury. 

• Grade 1: A person shows signs of tenderness, stiffness, and localized neck pain.

• Grade 2: A person shows signs of physical injury such as bruising, inflammation, and sensitivity to touch. Pain may also be found spreading to nearby areas like shoulders, face, arms, or back. This level also includes muscle spasms that make it difficult to move or twist the neck in any direction. 
• Grade 3: A person's severity increases at this level because of the potential for neurological damage. This is caused by inflammation and swelling that prevents nerve signals traveling to and from the injured area to the brian. The associated symptoms are as follows: headaches, impaired vision, muscle weakness, vertigo, pins & needles sensation, and trouble swallowing. This condition should be treated with importance and urgency to prevent any nerve complications or furthering damage. 
• Grade 4: The highest and most dangerous level of Whiplash symptoms, this typically includes all of the symptoms listed in Grade 3, but with higher pain and increased severity. When symptoms reach this level it can indicate that one or more neck vertebrae are out of place, placing intense pressure on your spinal cord or surrounding nerves. 

As a general rule of thumb, whiplash treatment for mild pain, Grades 0-2, can often be managed with ice and heat therapy, at home remedies, and over the counter medication. However, if the pain does not subside, and if symptoms become severe, like dizzy spells or numbness in the area, it’s urgent to seek immediate medical attention. Any damage to your spine and nerves should be handled with high priority because it can potentially cause permanent nerve damage and long-term spinal complications. At Beach Blvd Chiropractic, we specialize in creating a whiplash treatment that addresses the root cause, healing surrounding areas through soft tissue therapy.

Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

Chiropractic Care offers holistic, non-invasive, and drug-free whiplash treatments. Clinical studies, including one from The Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine, conducted a study that found whiplash treatment improved symptoms in 93% of patients dealing with chronic whiplash. Whiplash treatment is especially effective in helping patients that haven’t improved with traditional treatment because it promotes your body’s natural healing process while addressing neck pain and mobility issues. Popular chiropractic treatment options include:

• Spinal Adjustments: Identifies neck joints that are misaligned and gently moves them in the direction where it feels most constrained. Hands-on, gentle, non-thrusting manipulation to ease herniated discs.
• Soft Tissue Therapies: Restores proper muscle function by applying pressure and stretching muscles that have a lot of tension.
• Range-of-Motion Exercises: Targets the neck’s flexibility and mobility while relieving stiffness, gently moving the cervical spine through its natural motions.

Our Jacksonville Chiropractor starts by performing a thorough examination of his patients to identify the root cause of discomfort; he then curates a personalized treatment plan for each patient. We emphasize the importance of individualized treatment plans because we understand that every whiplash injury is unique and may range in severity. Dr. Winkler is certified in the use of all traditional chiropractic techniques, as well as the Cox flexion/distraction and the Graston technique, used to treat acute and chronic soft tissue injuries. As a part of our “whole body” approach we include patient education in our treatment plans, providing clients with the tools and maintenance necessary to keep their neck comfortable, healthy, and balanced. Some of these tools include at-home exercises, range-of-motion stretches, postural correcting movements, lifestyle recommendations, and incorporating healing movements daily. 

If you’re seeking Whiplash treatment, the therapists at Beach Blvd Chiropractic Massage Rehab are here to help you find relief. Whether it’s whiplash or neck pain, get ahead of the discomfort and take a step towards a pain-free future. Our skilled team will assist your journey to recovery each step of the way. Don't wait to seek treatment, call us today to book your free consultation.