Whiplash

Whiplash is most commonly associated with automobile accidents but the fact is whiplash can be sports related, caused by falls or even a by a simple push from behind.
The complex mechanics of the muscles, ligaments and joints are extremely delicate allowing slight shock or trauma to cause a serious imbalance in the neck. The term whiplash comes from the action of the injury as it resembles the snapping motion of a whip. Usually whiplash occurs when the body is suddenly jolted back and forth too fast or too far beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine can be overstretched or torn.
One of the most common affects of whiplash is the reversal of the normal curvature of the neck as seen on x-ray. When left untreated the body will try to protect the injured area by narrowing the discs, accumulating calcium deposits and finally fusing the spinal bones together. This spinal degeneration can lead to scar tissue formation leading to chronic stiffness and the inability to move properly and further health complications due to the vital structures that lie adjacent to the spine such as the thyroid gland, brainstem and spinal cord. If caught in time a Chiropractor can restore the proper curvature of the neck relieving painful symptoms and preventing further degeneration.
Common symptoms of this type of strain are painful headaches, muscle spasms, pain in the shoulders, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, insomnia, and the most common, neck pain.
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