Stages of Whiplash and How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Whiplash injuries occur when there is a rapid twisting or turning of the head, neck, or upper torso. This twisting motion may be sudden or gradual and may happen during an accident or as a result of a car accident or other traumatic event. Whiplash injuries are sometimes referred to as sports hernias or postural disturbances due to their causes and symptoms.
The whiplash symptoms are similar to any other neck injury, including pain, stiffness, and weakness in the neck and upper back. These symptoms’ severity depends on where the injury occurred on the spine.
However, the good news is that chiropractic care can help with whiplash symptoms. At Chiro Boynton, we treat whiplash using chiropractic care—a natural healing method that corrects structural problems by restoring balance through gentle adjustments.
Schedule an appointment online with our chiropractor in Boynton Beach, FL, today. In the meantime, here is a detailed overview of whiplash and how our chiropractic care can help.
Stages of Whiplash
The stages of whiplash can be categorized into grades based on the severity of the symptoms.
- Grade 0: no complaints or physical signs
This is the earliest stage of whiplash. You may have had a bump or bruise, to begin with, but it’s not clear whether you were injured.
- Grade 1: Neck complaints with no signs
This stage is the least severe and occurs when there is mild tenderness over the affected area. It can be caused by a bump, bruise, or an impact such as a car accident.
- Grade 2: Neck complaints and musculoskeletal signs
Neck complaints and musculoskeletal signs may characterize the second-grade of whiplash. The patient may complain of neck pain, stiffness, or numbness.
This may be due to a disc herniation, but it should not be confused with disc prolapse, a serious condition requiring urgent treatment.
- Grade 3: Neck complaints and neurological signs
The most common symptoms at this stage are headaches, neck pain, and stiffness with or without arm weakness.
The pain may worsen upon waking up or after sitting for long periods. There may also be numbness or tingling in the fingers, hands, and arms.
- Grade 4: Neck complaints and fracture/dislocation
In this stage, the symptoms may be more complex and are characterized by a general sense of underlying weakness and lack of coordination.
The person may also report headaches and difficulty lifting or reaching items at their usual height. If there is no fracture or dislocation, the symptoms will persist for only a few days to a few weeks.
How Chiropractic Care Will Help with Whiplash
In many cases, whiplash causes neck and back pain, dizziness, and blurred vision — all of which can make it difficult to function normally. Chiropractic care treats these symptoms by realigning your spine so that its joints move freely. This allows the nerves that run through your spine to heal more quickly, relieving the pain associated with whiplash injuries.
Chiropractic treatment helps reduce the effects of muscle tension linked to whiplash injuries. Chiropractors also use soft tissue mobilization techniques such as massage therapy to release tight muscles to relieve pain and restore function.
Get Whiplash Chiropractic Care in Boynton Beach, FL Today
At Chiro Boynton, we treat whiplash with our gentle chiropractic techniques. We focus on the full body to alleviate pain, reduce stress and return you to a normal healthy state. We offer a full range of services to help you heal from whiplash.
Visit our chiropractor’s office in Boynton Beach, FL, today.
