One of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident (typically rear-enders) is whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck – injury to the ligament is called a neck sprain, and injury to the muscle is called a neck strain. Severe whiplash can also include injury to the inter-vertebral joints of the spine, discs, cervical muscles and nerve roots.
Whiplash to the neck results from being forcibly whipped forward on impact and then forcibly whipped back. Pain typically accompanies impact. Whiplash is treatable and most symptoms will resolve over time; however, early intervention is key to a speedy recovery. If left untreated, pain and discomfort may become chronic and could affect the quality of your life, so be sure to consult with your massage therapist immediately following a whiplash injury.
Massage therapy is one of the most effective therapies for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculoskeletal system. Massage therapy can help relax the muscles, decrease stress and tension, increase circulation, and prevent and breakdown scar tissue formation.
Rehabilitating your whiplash injury will require you to receive home care advice on the proper use of ice or heat. Your whiplash rehab program will also have you safely performing range-of-motion exercises. The RMT’s can teach you about proper body mechanics and postural awareness as it relates to whiplash. The therapists will also demonstrate proper stretching; and can help prevent further exacerbation of your neck injury.