Whiplash: Understanding Neck Injuries and How Chiropractic Can Help
“My neck feels tight and sore after the car accident—could it be whiplash?”
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries following a car accident, sports impact, or any sudden forceful movement of the head and neck. It often goes unnoticed at first but can lead to long-term discomfort if not properly treated.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden and forceful back-and-forth motion of the head—similar to the cracking of a whip. This movement can stretch and irritate the muscles, ligaments, joints, and nerves in the cervical spine.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
Symptoms might begin within hours or days of the incident and can include:
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Neck pain and stiffness
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Headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
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Shoulder, upper back, or arm pain
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Reduced range of motion
Dizziness or visual disturbances
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Tingling or numbness in the arms
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Fatigue or difficulty concentrating
If left untreated, whiplash may lead to chronic pain or postural imbalances that affect everyday movement and sleep quality.
How Chiropractic Care Helps with Whiplash
At Living Chiropractic, we use precise and gentle techniques—especially the Gonstead method—to assess and correct misalignments in the cervical spine. Our approach focuses on restoring normal joint movement, relieving muscle tension, and improving nerve communication.
Here’s how chiropractic may help:
✔ Thorough Spinal Assessments – We start by understanding how the injury has affected your posture, movement, and nervous system
✔ Gentle, Targeted Adjustments – Designed to restore proper movement to affected spinal joints
✔ Soft Tissue Support – Where needed, our team may also recommend massage or myotherapy to help reduce muscle spasm and support healing
✔ Rehabilitation Advice – You may be given exercises to help restore strength and prevent further strain on your neck
What the Research Says
A systematic review published in The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (Carroll et al., 2009) supports manual therapy—including chiropractic adjustments—for reducing pain and improving function in whiplash-associated disorders.
A study in Spine (2003) found that early mobilisation and manual therapy improved recovery rates in acute whiplash patients compared to those receiving only rest and medication.
Research by Haavik & Murphy (2012) also shows that chiropractic adjustments may positively influence brain-body communication, potentially helping the nervous system better respond to injury.
Our myotherapists play a vital role in whiplash recovery—especially when muscle tension, joint restriction, and movement issues linger after the injury.
✔ They work on deep-seated muscular imbalances caused by the trauma
✔ Use hands-on techniques like dry needling, cupping, and soft tissue release
✔ Assist with postural correction and mobility
✔ Prescribe exercises to improve stability and prevent future strain
Myotherapy works alongside chiropractic to speed up recovery and improve function—particularly when the muscles have been guarding or overcompensating for misalignments.
Where Myotherapy Fits In
How Remedial Massage Can Support Healing
For many patients, remedial massage offers additional relief—particularly in the early stages of whiplash recovery.
✔ Helps ease muscle tightness and reduce stress in the nervous system
✔ Enhances blood flow and drainage, speeding up the healing process
✔ Encourages relaxation and lowers pain levels
✔ Supports ongoing chiropractic care by loosening tight fascia and soft tissues
It’s a gentle, supportive therapy ideal for when you’re not quite ready for deeper treatments—or simply need to slow things down and allow your body to heal.
When to Seek Help
If you’ve recently been in a car accident or sustained a neck injury—especially if you’re noticing any of the symptoms mentioned above—it’s important to have your spine checked. Whiplash isn’t always visible on X-rays, but our comprehensive assessment may uncover imbalances that are contributing to your discomfort.
✅ Don’t wait until the pain becomes chronic—book your assessment at Living Chiropractic today.
📍 Located in Chelsea Heights, Living Chiropractic supports patients across Bonbeach, Carrum, Patterson Lakes, Aspendale Gardens and beyond.
📞 Call us today: 03 9580 2282
