How Long Does It Take to Recover from Whiplash with Chiropractic Care?
Did you know chiropractic care can help with whiplash after a car accident? Find out the answer to, “How long does it take to recover from whiplash?”
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck and is commonly caused after a car or other vehicle accident. While the prognosis is generally good, the individual will suffer. Between 15% and 40% of whiplash patients experience chronic pain.
Fortunately, there are many treatment options.
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective healing option that will help manipulate the vertebrae and muscles of the neck to improve mobility and decrease pain.
While this is promising, you probably have one question: “how long does it take to recover from whiplash?” Here’s everything you should know about whiplash chiropractic treatment and healing.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Whiplash?
This question is impossible to answer in a one-word sentence. That’s because everyone is different, they have different degrees of whiplash, and everyone heals differently.
On average, an individual can recover from whiplash in six weeks if it’s a simple muscle strain. However, if you are unfortunate to suffer a ligament or disc injury from the auto accident, you can suffer from whiplash pain years after the accident.
This is why your chiropractor will assess you as an individual and will use a multitude of treatment methods to decrease your whiplash pain.
Different Treatments
Your chiropractor may use one or more of these treatments during whiplash recovery. Here’s an in-depth look at each of these treatment options.
Muscle Relaxation
If your muscles are dysfunctional as a result of whiplash, your chiropractor can use muscle relaxation techniques to improve mobility and decrease muscle pain. This consists of gentle stretches to relieve any tension.
If your muscles are too tight, your chiropractor can apply pressure to your trigger points. This will help relieve your pain and make your muscles make flexible.
Chiropractic Manipulation
If your joints are dysfunctional as a result of whiplash, your chiropractor will apply manipulation techniques to move the joint(s) in the correct placement. This technique is called chiropractic manipulation, or adjustment.
This technique involves a gentle thrust to correct the joint damage. The movement is slow and you won’t experience pain.
McKenzie Exercises
If you have disc derangement as a result of whiplash, McKenzie exercises are specifically designed to correct this issue.
These exercises involve simple movements that you will first do with your chiropractor and will later be able to do them at home.
The exercises you perform depend on the severity of the disc derangement and what your chiropractor recommends. For example, flexion and extension exercises enhance mobility and help correct the disc derangement.
A Chiropractor Can Improve Your Life
Whiplash is an injury that can cause pain and discomfort.
Fortunately, the prognosis is generally positive. But you may ask yourself, how long does it take to recover from whiplash? Depending on the individual, it can only take a few weeks or several years in severe cases.
The best course of action is to find a skilled chiropractor and know the different techniques that he/she may use. After undergoing treatment, you’ll start to experience changes.
Are you based in Orange, CA? We specialize in treating whiplash. Make an appointment today.
