Neck Pain/Whiplash
Injuries to the neck caused by the sudden movement of the head backward, forward or sideways, is referred to as "whiplash". It is often the tragic result of front or rear-end collisions. Many whiplash injuries occur when a car is stopped and occupants are unaware that they are about to be hit from behind. Even though the car may have received little damage, occupants can suffer serious spinal injury.
Consider for a moment that the average head weighs between 7 and 11 pounds and sits on the most flexible and fragile part of the spine, the neck. Although the neck is relatively short, it contains 32 joints and is easily stretched and injured if it's thrown in any direction.
Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be over-stretched or torn. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may be only slightly damaged.
The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.
The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help return spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.
Did You Know? Worn too long, a cervical collar can further weaken supportive muscles and actually lengthen recovery time!
Neck Pain
We've all heard the expression "you give me a pain in the neck!" meaning that stress can affect us in a painful way, especially if there is weakness in that most delicate and most easily injured part of the spine - the neck.
The neck is comprised of 7 separate bones that are loosely connected together by ligaments and muscles. The laxity allows for great mobility but also predisposes it to injury. Poor posture, occupation, falling asleep in a chair, falls, twists and strain take their toll on the neck.
Some of the common symptoms of irritation or pinched nerves in the neck are headache, sinusitis, dizziness, painful ear and face, shoulder and arm pain and/or tingling, hand and finger numbness and tingling, difficult breathing and chest pain, and throat discomfort.
In fact, tension headaches most commonly occur when tightening muscles further restrict and irritate nerves that go to the head or control blood vessels that supply the head.
Crossroads Chiropractic
44 Pittstown Road, Clinton, NJ 08809
(908) 735-4086
Email: chiroart@patmedia.net
©2005 Crossroads Chiropractic Health & Wellness Center
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