Treating Whiplash

The first treatment is spinal manipulation. This is often the first choice by a chiropractor for joint issues. It realigns the spinal joints and allows the joints to regain their natural range of movement. This is often accomplished by gently rotating the patient’s head in the direction of joint stress or dysfunction. After a few rotations, your chiropractor will use either a quick thrust or a slow, steady movement to realign the joints. Some chiropractors prefer the slow, steady movement for nervous or first-time patients. Most chiropractors use muscle stimulation or relaxation techniques to treat the muscle problems associated with whiplash injuries. For example, if your muscle appears to be weak, your chiropractor will stimulate the muscle to encourage contractions. If you have the opposite problem, your muscles are too tense, your chiropractor will help stretch the muscle to relieve the tension. The intensity of the stretches depends on how tight your muscle is, tighter muscles require more intense stretches. In many cases, these stretches may be painful. If this is the case, your chiropractor may apply pressure to trigger points to relieve your pain. Once your spine has been successfully realigned, your chiropractor may provide you with specific exercises to help reduce the chance of your discs becoming misaligned again. These exercises are called McKenzie exercises. Your chiropractor will initially show you how to do these exercises in his or her office, then give you instructions on how to do them at home. These were designed to be easy for patients who want to take an active role in treating their whiplash.

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