Whiplash treatment in Orland Park
Caring for the neck and spine injuries that a car accident can leave behind.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people suffer in car collisions. When a car is struck from behind or hits another object, the neck snaps back and forth violently. That sudden, forceful motion overextends the muscles and ligaments of the neck, causing soft-tissue damage that leads to stiffness and soreness. The same motion can also cause structural damage in the spine.
Two kinds of injury
Whiplash often involves more than sore muscles. The overextension can cause soft-tissue damage to the muscles and ligaments, and it can also cause structural damage such as misaligned vertebrae, herniated, bulging, or ruptured discs, and nerve damage. Because these injuries can overlap, an examination is important for understanding everything the accident affected.
Symptoms
The most familiar signs of whiplash are neck stiffness, soreness, and reduced range of motion. When discs or nerves are involved, you may also notice pain that travels beyond the neck, along with numbness or tingling. Symptoms do not always appear right away, which is one reason getting evaluated soon after an accident matters.
How we treat it
Chiropractic care addresses both types of whiplash injury. For the structural damage, chiropractic adjustments and alignment help by releasing pressure on the discs and nerves. For the soft-tissue damage, therapeutic ultrasound can ease muscle pain and support healing. Dr. Beekman examines you to understand the full picture, then builds a personalized, conservative plan. Getting evaluated after an accident is worthwhile before relying on medication or considering surgery.
Recently in an accident? Whiplash injuries can linger for years when left untreated, and symptoms do not always show up immediately. Visit our Orland Park office for an examination so we can catch the damage early and create a treatment plan for you.
Questions, answered
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in car accidents. When a car is struck from behind or hits another object, the neck snaps back and forth violently. That sudden motion overextends the muscles and ligaments in the neck, causing soft-tissue damage, stiffness, and soreness. It can also lead to structural problems in the spine.
Should I see a chiropractor even if I feel fine after an accident?
Yes. Whiplash symptoms often do not appear right away, and injuries left untreated can linger for years. Getting evaluated after an accident lets us identify soft-tissue and structural damage early, before you rely on medication or consider surgery.
How does chiropractic care help whiplash?
Whiplash can involve both soft-tissue injury and structural damage such as misaligned vertebrae or disc problems. Chiropractic adjustments and alignment help by releasing pressure on the discs and nerves, and gentle soft-tissue care can relieve the muscle pain. Dr. Beekman examines you to build a plan that addresses both.
Don't wait to have whiplash checked
An examination tells us exactly what the accident affected, and what to do about it.