Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when your neck or head gets jerked in a rapid, back-and-forth motion. This type of injury commonly occurs during a car accident in which you’re hit from behind unexpectedly. Additionally, kids and adults who play sports like football are at risk for a whiplash injury.

As a result of a rear impact during a car accident, the sudden movement forces the lower cervical vertebrae in your neck to become hyperextended backward, while the upper cervical vertebrae become hyperflexed forward. This abnormal S-shaped motion in your neck damages the soft tissues, muscles, and tendons, so you feel the painful effects of whiplash.

Whiplash symptoms usually occur within 24 hours of an injury or accident, but not always; they may also happen more gradually, and you may ignore or misunderstand your symptoms. Common signs of whiplash include:

• Loss of range of motion in your neck
• Ringing in your ears
• Headaches starting at the base of your skull
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Stiff shoulders
• Tingling in your arms
• Jaw pain
• Upper back pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

In untreated or severe cases of whiplash, you may also experience blurred vision, memory difficulties, sleep disturbances, and even depression. Early diagnosis and effective whiplash treatments, like the therapies the team at Pro Rehab Chiropractic offers, lead to a faster recovery than does waiting to see if your symptoms get better without treatment.

The team of highly skilled chiropractors at Pro Rehab Chiropractic takes a holistic, individualized approach to rehabilitation after a whiplash injury. The doctors use the latest technology to help realign your cervical spine as gently and as accurately as possible with the assistance of the PulStar® System’s precision pulses. The PulStar analyzes your spine and detects areas of resistance so your provider can use impulse therapy to apply precise pressure to a single vertebra in your neck.

There’s no cracking or popping during your adjustment, just a gentle pulse that greatly reduces your whiplash pain and helps to realign your cervical spine. Patients often get relief in just a few visits. Treatment with the PulStar System can help you heal faster than conventional whiplash treatment methods.

If you were in a car accident or suffered a sports injury, your comprehensive rehabilitation plan may also include massage therapy, electrostimulation, therapeutic exercises, or acupuncture. The team is with you every step of the way as you recover from whiplash and can work with attorneys and insurance companies to ensure that you get proper compensation.

Call one of the five offices for an appointment or schedule online.