Do physical therapists know what to do for whiplash?

Whiplash is a condition caused by tearing the soft tissue in the neck. This usually occurs when the neck is jerked back and forth in a sudden motion. The most common cause of whiplash is a car accident, but other common causes include sports injuries, horseback riding or cycling accidents, and violent falls. Whiplash can make it painful to move your neck around, leading you to wonder what to do for whiplash. The good news is, physical therapy can help.

Are you wondering what to do for whiplash? While whiplash is usually a relatively mild condition, its painful symptoms can be long lasting. Physical therapy can be effective in reducing your symptoms and strengthening your neck after an accident. 

Physical therapy techniques for whiplash

There are a variety of techniques used in physical therapy to treat whiplash. The approach taken by a physical therapist will depend on the severity of the condition. Here are some of the most common techniques used:

• Soft tissue mobilization — This technique is a form of manual therapy. It is a hands-on technique where the physical therapist stimulates the soft tissue in the neck injured after whiplash. Soft tissue mobilization can reduce the tension in the muscles by stimulating the neck tissue. It may improve the blood flow to the neck, which may help reduce neck pain caused by whiplash. 

• Therapeutic exercise — If you’ve torn the muscles in your neck, it’s important to strengthen them during recovery. Whiplash may lead you to use your neck muscles less because it can cause pain. However, it’s important to stretch and strengthen your muscles so you don’t lose flexibility in the neck, since that can lead to further problems down the road. 

• Electrical stimulation — While it may sound intimidating, electric stimulation is a safe approach to pain management. It is never intended to cause pain itself. This method works by attaching adhesive electrodes to the neck. These electrodes may induce a natural pain reduction effect by stimulating the sensory nerves in the injured neck tissue. 

Wondering what to do for whiplash? Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy has you covered

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of whiplash after an accident or injury, physical therapy can help provide you relief. Whiplash can persist long after an injury has taken place, but physical therapy is effective in managing your symptoms. Our specialists at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy are experts in treating neck pain from whiplash. We are prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan that addresses your whiplash symptoms today. 

Contact us today for more information about what to do for whiplash or to schedule an initial appointment.