Millions of Whiplash Sufferers

Every year, 2,000,000 people in the U.S. suffer from whiplash due to auto accidents. Just to explain what happens to the neck, the ligaments are extended beyond their normal limits, thus cause the vertebrae that support the neck to become sprained or torn. That stretching of those ligaments forces that vertebrae out of their normal position.

Though, what many people do not consider is that whiplash can happen at low-speed impacts of as slow as five MPH. This type of neck injury most often occurs when a person's vehicle is rear-ended by another vehicle at six to 12 MPH. This is not a high enough speed to cause any property damage to the car itself, but it is a high enough speed to cause a neck injury.

Causes of Whiplash

Though, this type of injury does not require a vehicle to be involved at all. It may be the result of other injuries, such as those listed below

• Skiing
• Hockey
• Football
• Cycling
• Ice Skating
• Gymnastics
• Boxing
• Falling down stairs
• Slipping on the ice
• Birth injuries
• Physical abuse

The Bottom Line of Whiplash

While it's easy to think that all you will need to do is ice your neck and back, it is important to note that while we do encourage you to ice those areas where you feel the pain, they are limited to reducing any inflammation to the injured area. It is important not to only rely on ice because research shows whiplash can be the underlying cause of various health issues including dizziness, speech problems, throat problems, and even hearing loss.

Though, whiplash responds positively to a specific and gentle type of chiropractic known as upper cervical chiropractic, which focuses on aligning the top two vertebrae in the neck. It is important to align those two bones because they are situated at the base of the brainstem, which is the main venue through which the brain communicates with the body. An upper cervical chiropractor will examine the upper neck vertebrae for any misalignments and make the necessary adjustments, so as to restore the brain's ability to communicate with the body.

To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:

Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/

So, you were pulling out of a parking space this morning, you stopped at a stop light, or some other scenario. Maybe you had plans to go to the gym later that morning or to just start a load of laundry when you got home. Whatever the scenario, your plans were interrupted when you were sitting in your car and someone hit you from behind.

Now, you are experiencing a pain in your neck, and you keep hoping it will go away. That's whiplash. It will go away, but it won't go away on it's own. You will have to take steps to make it go away. It is important to follow the below steps to overcome this neck strain.

Four Steps to Overcome Whiplash

1. Ice your neck  - Place an ice pack on your neck for 20-30 minutes at a time once every three to four hours for two to three days. Make sure the pack is  covered with a thin cloth or paper towel to prevent you from getting frost bite.
2. Moist Heat – This should only be done after you have followed the above icing procedures for two or three days and the initial swelling has gone down. This might be a good time to take a warm bath or hot tub.
3. Neck Brace or Collar – If you have one, or know someone who does, you can wear this. But only wear a neck brace if your upper cervical specialist recommends it. They can weaken the muscles, so it is important to only wear them after an examination of your upper vertebra.
4. Upper Cervical – The most important step in going through the healing process after you experience whiplash is to seek out the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. They can correct any misalignments in your upper neck vertebra.

Complications after Whiplash

When you experience whiplash, your neck muscles crack in a whiplike motion, thus causing them to extend beyond their normal range of motion. There is a high probability that when your neck comes to a rest your top two vertebrae, the Atlas and Axis, will be out of alignment. This misalignment can lead to further complications including migraines, vertigo, carpal tunnel, TMJ, multiple sclerosis, and more.

To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:

Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/